The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld a judgment stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognising congresses organised by the David Mark led leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
In a split decision by a three member panel, the court affirmed an earlier Federal High Court order which restrained the caretaker leadership led by former Senate President David Mark from conducting party congresses that could replace existing elected state executive committees.
The court ruled that elected state executive committees of political parties have the constitutional responsibility to conduct state congresses, not caretaker committees appointed by the national leadership.
The decision has created fresh uncertainty around the internal leadership dispute within the ADC, a party that has gained more political attention ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to the judgment, the ADC said the ruling does not affect its candidates or recently concluded primaries.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the judgment only concerns the conduct of ward, local government and state congresses for the election of party executives and does not invalidate candidates produced through direct primaries.
The ADC also announced that it would challenge the decision at the Supreme Court, insisting that its political activities and candidates remain valid.
The leadership crisis has continued to generate attention as different factions battle over control of the party structure and its direction ahead of future elections.
