Idriss LAWAL
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has thrown out the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the state congresses organised by committees set up by the Executive Council.
In a split 2–1 judgment delivered on Monday, the appellate court upheld an earlier ruling of the Federal High Court, which restrained the Mark-led leadership from conducting state congresses and interfering with elected state executives of the party.
Justice Okon Abang, who delivered the lead judgment, said the court found no reason to overturn the lower court’s decision, stressing that only elected state executive committees have the authority to conduct party congresses.
The court also declared that congresses conducted under the Mark-led caretaker committee were null and void, having been carried out in violation of a subsisting court order.
However, the presiding justice, Abba Mohammed, dissented, arguing that the matter was an internal party affair and should not have been entertained by the court.
The ruling is expected to affect outcomes of congresses conducted by the faction and could have implications for candidates who emerged from the process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
ADC said it would challenge the decision at the Supreme Court.
