The Federal High Court in Abuja has barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or taking part in any congress organised by a disputed caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC)
Delivering the ruling on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik also barred former Senate President David Mark and other party figures from interfering in the duties and tenure of duly elected state executives of the party.
The decision comes amid an ongoing leadership tussle within the ADC, with the Supreme Court already reserving judgment on a related appeal filed by the Mark-led faction of the party on 22 April.
The suit was filed by Norman Obinna and six others on behalf of ADC state chairpersons and executive committees, challenging the legality of actions taken by a caretaker or interim national leadership.
The plaintiffs argued that the caretaker structure had no constitutional authority to organise state congresses or appoint committees, urging the court to uphold the tenure of elected officials and stop parallel arrangements.
In her judgment, Justice Abdulmalik held that the case had merit, stressing that the key issue was whether the defendants, including David Mark, had any legal or constitutional backing to assume the powers of elected state party organs whose tenure is protected under the constitution.
She referenced Section 223 of the 1999 Constitution, which requires political parties to conduct internal elections on a democratic basis, as well as provisions in the ADC constitution that set fixed terms of office for party executives.
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