Court Blocks INEC from Recognizing ADC Caretaker Congresses

On a ruling delivered by Justice Joyc Abdulmalik, the Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing congresses organized by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under the leadership of former Senate President David Mark. The court found that the caretaker committee lacked constitutional authority to organize state congresses, which led to the legal action initiated by Norman Obinna and six others on behalf of the ADC state chairperson.

The judgment emphasized that the tenure of the state executive committee remains valid and that the process adopted by the defendants, including the appointment of the congress committee, was not recognized under the party's rules. Justice Abdulmalik dismissed arguments regarding the court's jurisdiction and the plaintiffs' standing, ruling that the matter fell within the court's jurisdiction and that the plaintiffs had sufficient standing to represent their grievances.

The court set aside the appointment of the committee and barred INEC from recognizing any congresses organized outside the party's provisions.