The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) deepened on Wednesday as a Federal High Court in Abuja issued orders restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or participating in any state congresses organised by a caretaker leadership linked to former Senate President, David Mark.
Delivering judgment on April 29, 2026, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the tenure of the party’s duly elected state working committees and executive committees remains valid and subsisting.
The court held that only these elected structures possess the constitutional authority to organise state congresses, declaring that the caretaker committee lacks the legal power to set up congress committees or conduct such exercises.
In a further directive, the judge restrained Mark and members of the disputed caretaker leadership from interfering with the functions and tenure of the elected state executives.
Justice Abdulmalik also nullified any congress committees constituted by the caretaker group and barred INEC from recognising any congresses or conventions conducted outside the provisions of the party’s constitution.
The ruling comes amid an ongoing internal power struggle within the ADC as the party intensifies preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Observers say the decision represents a significant legal victory for the elected state executives who had challenged the legitimacy of the caretaker leadership’s actions.
Reactions from party stakeholders are expected in the coming days as the implications of the judgment begin to unfold.
