Court Bars INEC from Recognising ADC Congresses

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

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the conduct of state congresses is the responsibility of a 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 a national convention.

Justice Abdulmalik also held that neither the Constitution of Nigeria nor the ADC constitution empowers the caretaker or interim National Working Committee, led by David Mark, to appoint committees for the purpose of conducting state congresses.

The judgment was delivered in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026 filed by Don Norman Obinna and six others, who sued on behalf of themselves and all State Chairmen and State Executive Committees of the ADC.

The defendants in the case include the African Democratic Congress, Senator David Mark, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor (sued on behalf of the caretaker committee), and INEC.

The plaintiffs had challenged the validity of appointments made by the caretaker leadership and argued that any congress conducted under its supervision would violate the party constitution.

The court’s decision effectively halts INEC recognition of any state congresses organised under the disputed caretaker structure until due constitutional processes are followed.