The Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or participating in any state congresses conducted by committees set up by the caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the conduct of state congresses is the exclusive responsibility of a party’s state executive committees, not its national leadership.
The court further held that the four-year tenure of the ADC’s State Working Committees and State Executive Committees remains valid and in force until properly conducted congresses and a duly convened national convention take place.
Justice Abdulmalik also declared that neither the Nigerian Constitution nor the ADC Constitution grants the caretaker/interim National Working Committee—led by David Mark the authority to appoint committees for the purpose of conducting state congresses.
Details shortly…
