The Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, presided by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, on Wednesday, restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognising state congresses of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, conducted by committees under the leadership of David Mark.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a judgement on Wednesday, maintained that the responsibility for conducting state congresses rests with the party’s state executive committees, not the national leadership.

The Judge, delivering judgement on the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026 filed by Don Norman Obinna, Johnny Tovie Derek, Obah C. Ehigiator, Hon. Olona Yinka, Dr. Charles Idowu Omideji, Samuel Pam Gyang, and Obianyo Patrick as plaintiffs, insisted that the four-year tenure of the ADC’s State Working Committees and State Executive Committees remains valid and subsisting, pending the conduct of properly constituted congresses and the convocation of a national convention.

Justice Abdulmalik held that neither the Nigerian Constitution nor the party constitution empowers the caretaker/interim National Working Committee, led by David Mark, to appoint committees to conduct state congresses.