Court Of Appeal Affirms Ruling Against INEC’s Recognition Of ADC State Congresses

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed a Federal High Court judgment restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or participating in state congresses organised by the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

In a split judgment of two to one delivered on Monday, the appellate court upheld the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court delivered on April 29, 2026.

The lower court had ruled that the tenure of the party’s state working committees and state executive committees remained valid until properly constituted state congresses were conducted and a national convention convened.

The court also held that neither the Constitution nor the ADC constitution empowers the caretaker or interim National Working Committee led by former Senate President David Mark to appoint committees to conduct state congresses.

According to the judgment, the responsibility for organising state congresses rests with the party’s state executive committees and not the national leadership.

The suit was instituted by aggrieved members of the party, including Don Norman Obinna, Johnny Tovie Derek, Obah Ehigiator, Olona Yinka, Charles Omideji, Samuel Pam Gyang and Obianyo Patrick, who challenged the authority of the caretaker leadership to organise the congresses.

The plaintiffs argued that the interim leadership lacked the constitutional powers to conduct state congresses or constitute committees for that purpose, a position the courts have now upheld.