Court Blocks INEC from Acknowledging ADC Congresses

On Wednesday, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Joyc Abdulmalik, ruled against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognizing congresses organized by the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The court found that the ADC's constitution does not empower the caretaker interim national working committee, led by Mark, to appoint a congress committee for conducting state congresses.

The judgment arose from a suit filed by aggrieved state chairpersons of the ADC, challenging the legality of actions taken by the caretaker leadership. Justice Abdulmalik affirmed that the tenure of the ADC's state executive committee remains valid until properly constituted state congresses are conducted.

The court restrained INEC from recognizing any congresses organized outside the provisions of the party's constitution and emphasized that the state executive committee's authority must be respected. The ruling also addressed procedural issues regarding the defendants' actions and confirmed the court's jurisdiction over the matter.