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.
Justices Abang and Donatus Okorowo gave the majority verdict barring the electoral body from acknowledging the outcome of congresses held by the Mark-led leadership of the ADC.
