Appeal Court upholds judgment barring INEC from recognising ADC congresses organised by Mark-led executives
The Nigerian Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling that prevents the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognizing congresses organized by a caretaker committee led by David Mark. The court ruled that only elected state executive committees have the authority to conduct such congresses.
Why it matters
This legal decision creates significant uncertainty for the African Democratic Congress and its potential presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday upheld the judgement restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising state congresses organised by committees appointed by the David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a 2-1 judgement of its three-member panel, the Court of Appeal held that it found no reason to set aside the restraining order the Federal High Court in Abuja had issued against the Mr Mark-led ADC on 29 April.
Judge Okon Abang, who delivered the majority judgement, further upheld the order issued by Judge Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which restrained the Mark-led executives from interfering with the tenure and functions of the party’s elected state executives.
The court concurred that responsibility for conducting state congresses of political parties rests with elected state executive committees, not with the national leadership.
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