From Marcus Nkire
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to refrain from recognising or taking part in any state congresses conducted by a caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, the presiding judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, ruled that the tenure of the party’s state working committees and state executive committees remains valid and in force. She held that their mandates subsist until duly constituted congresses are held and a national convention is properly convened.
The court further held that neither the Constitution of Nigeria nor the ADC’s internal constitution confers any authority on a caretaker or interim national working committee to constitute panels for the purpose of conducting state congresses.
Justice Abdulmalik specifically faulted the actions of the interim leadership reportedly headed by David Mark, stressing that such moves fall outside the bounds of both constitutional and party provisions. She maintained that any congresses organised through such arrangements would lack legal standing, having not been anchored on recognised party structures or due process.
