Court Restrains INEC From Recognising ADC Congress
A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising state congresses of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) conducted by committees appointed by the party’s interim national leadership under former Senate President, David Mark.
The ruling was delivered on Wednesday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. In her judgement, Justice Abdulmalik held that the authority to organise and conduct state congresses of the party lies with the ADC’s State Executive Committees and not with the national leadership. The court therefore restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising any state congress organised by committees set up by the caretaker or interim National Working Committee.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026, was filed by several members of the party, including Don Norman Obinna, Johnny Tovie Derek, Obah C. Ehigiator, Hon. Olona Yinka, Dr. Charles Idowu Omideji, Samuel Pam Gyang, and Obianyo Patrick.
The plaintiffs challenged the legitimacy of congresses being organised by committees appointed by the interim national leadership of the party.
In the ruling, Justice Abdulmalik stated that the four-year tenure of the ADC’s State Working Committees and State Executive Committees remains valid and subsisting. She explained that these executives must remain in office until properly constituted state congresses are conducted and a national convention is held in line with the party’s constitution.
The judge further ruled that neither the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria nor the constitution of the African Democratic Congress empowers the caretaker or interim National Working Committee to appoint committees to conduct state congresses. According to the court, such powers rest strictly with the party structures at the state level.
The judgement is expected to affect ongoing internal restructuring within the ADC and could shape how future congresses and conventions of the party are conducted.
