Heartbreak for aspirants as court bars INEC from recognising congresses conducted by Mark-Led ADC

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 David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a judgment delivered on Wednesday, held that the responsibility for conducting state congresses lies with the party’s state executive committees and not the national leadership.

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

Justice Abdulmalik also held that neither the Nigerian Constitution nor the party’s constitution empowers the caretaker or interim National Working Committee, led by David 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 sued for themselves and on behalf of all State Chairmen and State Executive Committees of the ADC.