Appeal Court Upholds Order Restricting INEC from Recognising Mark-Led ADC Congresses
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld a Federal High Court judgment restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising state congresses organised by committees appointed by the David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).In a split 2–1 decision delivered on Monday, the appellate court affirmed the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court, which barred INEC from recognising or participating in congresses conducted by the caretaker leadership.Justice Okon Abang, who delivered the lead judgment, held that there was no reason to overturn the lower court’s decision. He ruled that the responsibility for organising state congresses rests with duly elected state executive committees, not committees constituted by the party’s national caretaker leadership.The court also upheld the order restraining the David Mark-led executives from interfering with the tenure and functions of the ADC’s elected state executives.
According to the judgment, the congresses organised by the caretaker leadership were conducted in disobedience of an earlier court order issued by the Federal High Court. As a result, the appellate court declared the congresses and related activities arising from them to be invalid.The case originated from a suit filed by aggrieved members of the party, who challenged the legality of the caretaker leadership’s actions and sought judicial intervention to protect the authority of the elected state executives.The Court of Appeal further dismissed the appeal filed by the ADC leadership, describing it as lacking merit, and awarded costs against the party.The judgment is expected to have significant implications for the ongoing leadership dispute within the ADC as political parties continue preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Legal analysts say the ruling reinforces the principle that political parties must comply with their constitutions and existing court orders when conducting internal affairs.The ADC leadership has yet to announce its next legal steps, while political observers expect the decision to influence the party’s organisational activities in the coming months.
