The African Democratic Congress (ADC) says it has instructed its legal team to review a recent court judgment against its newly elected state chairmen and the national leadership of David Mark.
The ADC statement follows earlier reports that the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or participating in any congress organised by a disputed caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a judgment delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, the court also barred former Senate President, David Mark, and other party figures from interfering with the functions and tenure of elected state executives.
The case, instituted by Norman Obinna and six others on behalf of state chairpersons and executive committees, challenged the legality of actions taken by an interim national leadership of the party.
The plaintiffs argued that the caretaker body lacked constitutional authority to organise congresses or appoint committees for that purpose.
Delivering judgment, Justice Abdulmalik held that the claims were valid, describing the originating summons as “meritorious.”
The judge ruled that the appointment of a “congress committee” by the defendants was not recognised under the ADC constitution and therefore invalid.
She held that only duly elected party organs have the authority to conduct congresses.
Consequently, the court affirmed that the tenure of the state executive committees remains valid and must not be disrupted.
Reacting in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, and made available to NOP NIGERIA, the ADC noted that it had earlier issued a statement clarifying that the congresses did not truncate the tenure of the current State Executives.
He affirmed that their tenures will run their full course before the newly elected State Executives are inaugurated.
The full statement reads: “The attention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been drawn to media reports that the Federal High Court, presided over by Hon. Justice Joyce O. Abdulmalik, has sacked the elected, but yet to be inaugurated, State Chairmen of our party.
“It would be recalled that we issued a statement shortly after the congresses stating that the congresses did not truncate the tenure of the current State Executives, which will run their full course before the newly elected State Executives are inaugurated.
“Nevertheless, the leadership of the ADC has instructed its legal team to review the said judgment and advise the party appropriately.”
