The Court of Appeal in Abuja has barred 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 upheld the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court, which restrained the caretaker leadership from conducting state congresses or interfering with the affairs 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 decision of the lower court, affirming that only duly elected state executive committees possess the authority to organise and conduct party congresses.
The court further declared that all congresses conducted under the David Mark-led caretaker committee were null and void, ruling that they were carried out in violation of a subsisting court order.
However, the presiding justice, Abba Mohammed, dissented from the majority judgment, maintaining that the dispute was an internal party matter that ought not to have been entertained by the court.
The judgment is expected to impact the validity of congresses conducted by the caretaker committee and may have significant implications for candidates who emerged from the exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to the ruling, the African Democratic Congress announced its intention to challenge the judgment at the Supreme Court.
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