The Court of Appeal in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or participating in state congresses organised by committees constituted by the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a split 2–1 judgment delivered on Monday, the appellate court affirmed an earlier decision of the Federal High Court, which barred the Mark-led caretaker committee from conducting state congresses or interfering with the activities of the party’s elected state executive committees.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Okon Abang held that there was no basis to set aside the ruling of the lower court, stressing that only duly elected state executive committees have the legal authority to organise party congresses.
The court further declared that any congresses conducted under the supervision of the David Mark-led caretaker committee were null and void, having been carried out in violation of an existing court order.
However, the presiding justice, Abba Mohammed, dissented, maintaining that the dispute was an internal party matter that should not have been entertained by the courts.
The judgment is expected to impact the validity of congresses conducted by the caretaker leadership and could have significant implications for candidates who emerged from the exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.
