S’Court to determine ADC’s fate today
The hanging fate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will be decided today by Supreme Court. The Apex court has fixed today to deliver judgment on the party’s leadership crisis.
- Court voids congresses conducted by Mark-led NWC
The hanging fate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will be decided today by Supreme Court.
The Apex court has fixed today to deliver judgment on the party’s leadership crisis.
But the dispute deepened yesterday with a verdict by the Federal High Court in Abuja voiding congresses conducted by a faction of the party.
The apex court will, by 2 pm, rule on three appeals, including one filed by former Senate President David Mark, on the leadership structure of the ADC.
It was learnt that the apex court’s registry has since communicated the information to the parties.
The judgment is expected to determine which faction holds legitimate control of the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
A five-member panel of the court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, had reserved judgment on April 22 after hearing arguments from parties, informing counsel that a date would be communicated.
While two of the appeals relate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the third – filed by Mark – has drawn particular attention because of its implications for the ADC’s internal power struggle and its readiness for the next electoral cycle.
A day before the Supreme Court’s decision, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or participating in any congresses conducted by committees set up by the David Mark-led Caretaker/Interim National Working Committee of the party.
The court held that the authority to conduct state congresses resides with duly elected state executive committees, not the national leadership acting in an interim capacity.
Justice Abdulmalik held that the tenure of the ADC’s State Working Committees and State Executive Committees remains valid and subsisting, pending the conduct of properly constituted congresses and a national convention.
She declared that the Mark-led caretaker leadership lacked constitutional backing to appoint congress committees or assume the powers of elected state organs.
“The procedure adopted… including the appointment of a congress committee, is not recognised by the party’s constitution,” the judge held.
She stressed that political parties must strictly adhere to their internal rules.
The court also dismissed preliminary objections that the matter was purely an internal party affair, ruling that alleged breaches of constitutional provisions are justiciable.
“Where a party alleges that its constitution has been violated, the court is bound to adjudicate,” she said.
Consequently, the court voided the congresses conducted under the disputed arrangement.
It barred INEC from recognising their outcomes, while also restraining the Mark-led leadership from taking steps that could undermine elected state executives.
The ruling followed a suit filed by several state party officials, who argued that the caretaker committee’s actions violated the ADC constitution and threatened internal democracy.
Party’s legal unit to review ruling, says Abdullahi
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the leadership would review the judgment before taking further steps.
“The attention of the ADC has been drawn to media reports that the Federal High Court… has sacked the elected, but yet to be inaugurated, state chairmen of our party,” he said.
He noted that the party had earlier clarified that the tenure of current state executives would not be truncated by the congresses conducted.
“Nevertheless, the leadership of the ADC has instructed its legal team to review the said judgment and advise the party appropriately,” Abdullahi added.
Our party is not for sale, says Kachikwu
A former presidential candidate of the party, Dumebi Kachikwu, described the ruling as a decisive rejection of what he termed an attempt to hijack the party.
He said: “I had long warned that the ADC is not for sale.
“With this judgment, it has become clear that those who attempted to hijack our party have failed woefully.”
He characterised the annulled exercises as “kangaroo congresses,” insisting that the court’s decision had effectively blocked a “hostile takeover.”
Kachikwu also urged party members to remain vigilant, warning that the leadership tussle was not yet over.
“The battle is not over till it is over,” he said, while expressing confidence that the party would feature prominently in the 2027 elections.
Similarly, Chairman of ADC State Chairmen, Kingsley Ogga, welcomed the ruling, describing it as a victory for grassroots leadership and internal democracy.
“The ADC belongs to the people, not to any individual or group,” he said, urging members to remain united.
In a separate reaction, Don Norman Obinna, an interim spokesman aligned with the state chairmen bloc, said the judgment had clarified the authority structure within the party.
“The court has affirmed that it is the responsibility of state executives to conduct congresses,” he said, adding that the ruling settles disputes over who controls the party’s processes.
Obinna argued that the crisis arose from decisions taken without properly convened National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings, contrary to the party’s constitution.
He warned that failure to follow due process could expose the party to legal risks in future elections, including the possibility of electoral victories being overturned.
“As it stands, the recognised NEC will now take over the administration of the party and organise fresh congresses and conventions in line with due process,” he said.
ADC remains attractive, says Nwosu
Pioneer National Chairman Ralph Nwosu said the party’s growing membership and coalition-building efforts have positioned it as a major contender in next elections.
“Without ADC on the ballot, you cannot have a credible election in 2027,” he said, citing ongoing discussions with politicians across party lines.
He spoke in Abuja at the ADC Youths Champion and Prospective Legislative Summit organised by the office of the National Youth Leader.
Nwosu said the ADC coalition has recorded significant expansion.
He also said the party had gathered sufficient data and support base to challenge the ruling party.
Nwosu said ongoing membership registration is recording a strong inflow across the country.
“As of Tuesday evening, some serving senators in the APC and other parties were still talking to ADC leadership to join the party.
“What we have achieved by the coalition is phenomenal. No matter how anybody tries to knock it down, they cannot.
“To knock this down will be almost like knocking down democracy itself, and that will not happen,” Nwosu said.
