Appeal Court Bans INEC from Recognizing Mark-led ADC Congresses

The Appeal Court affirmed a Federal High Court ruling that restrains the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing the state congresses organized by the caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark. The court's decision, delivered by Justice Okon Abang, supported the earlier ruling by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, which stated that Mark's leadership improperly dissolved state committees and conducted congresses without proper authority.

The trial court had determined that the power to conduct congresses belonged to state executives whose tenures had not expired. The court also awarded costs of N10 million in favor of the seven state chairmen who challenged the dissolution.

The Appeal Court found no merit in the appeal filed by Mark's leadership and emphasized that the congresses conducted violated a court order, thus nullifying their legitimacy.