By Jude Opara
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising state congresses conducted by committees set up by the faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by David Mark.
In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that only the party’s state executive structures have the constitutional authority to organise state congresses, not the national caretaker leadership.
The court further held that the tenure of the ADC’s State Working Committees and State Executive Committees remains valid until properly conducted congresses are held and a national convention convened.
Justice Abdulmalik also declared that neither the 1999 Constitution nor the ADC’s internal constitution empowers the caretaker or interim National Working Committee to constitute committees for the conduct of state congresses.
The ruling followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026, instituted by a group of plaintiffs including Don Norman Obinna and others, acting on behalf of ADC state chairmen and executive committees.
The decision is expected to deepen the ongoing leadership crisis within the opposition party as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.
