The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday upheld an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising or participating in congresses conducted by committees appointed by the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress.
The judgment has thrown fresh uncertainty into the opposition party’s internal affairs ahead of the 2027 general election, with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the ADC insisting that the ruling does not affect candidates who emerged from its direct primaries.
In a split decision, the appellate court affirmed the April 29 judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which barred the caretaker leadership from interfering with the tenure and functions of the party’s elected state executive committees.
The majority judgment, delivered by Justice Okon Abang and supported by Justice Donatus Okorowo, held that the authority to conduct state congresses rested with elected state executive committees and not the caretaker national leadership.
However, the ADC rejected the ruling, saying it would appeal the decision at the Supreme Court while maintaining that its direct primaries and candidates for the 2027 elections remained valid.
