A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or engaging in any state congresses conducted by committees set up by the caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the authority to conduct state congresses lies strictly with the party’s state executive committees, not the national or caretaker leadership.
The court further declared that the tenure of the ADC’s existing State Working Committees and State Executive Committees remains valid and effective until properly organised congresses are held, followed by a legitimate national convention.
Justice Abdulmalik also held that neither the Nigerian Constitution nor the ADC constitution empowers the caretaker/interim National Working Committee—led by former Senate President David Mark—to appoint committees for the purpose of conducting state congresses.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026, was filed by Don Norman Obinna and six others, who sued on behalf of all ADC State Chairmen and State Executive Committees.
Defendants in the suit include the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor (representing the caretaker committee), and INEC.
The plaintiffs argued that the caretaker leadership’s appointment of a congress committee was unconstitutional and warned that any state congress conducted under its supervision—particularly the proposed April 2026 exercise—would amount to a violation of the party’s constitution.
The court’s decision effectively halts INEC’s involvement in the disputed congress arrangements pending compliance with constitutional provisions governing party structures and internal elections.
