Court Bars INEC from Recognising ADC Congresses Backed by David Mark Leadership

|By Chinwendu Nwani

A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising any state congresses conducted by committees appointed by the caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by David Mark.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the authority to conduct state congresses lies with the party’s state executive committees, not the national leadership.

The court also held that the four-year tenure of the ADC’s State Working Committees and State Executive Committees remains valid pending the conduct of properly constituted congresses and the convening of a national convention.

Justice Abdulmalik further ruled that neither the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria nor the party’s constitution empowers the caretaker or interim National Working Committee, led by Mark, to appoint committees to conduct state congresses.

The judgment followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026 filed by Don Norman Obinna, Johnny Tovie Derek, Obah C. Ehigiator, Hon. Olona Yinka, Dr. Charles Idowu Omideji, Samuel Pam Gyang and Obianyo Patrick. The plaintiffs said they were acting for themselves and on behalf of all State Chairmen and State Executive Committees of the ADC.