The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld a Federal High Court judgment restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or participating in any state congresses organised by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership led by David Mark.
In the lead judgment, Justice Okon Abang ruled that “the trial court decision to grant the reliefs sought by the 1st to 7th respondents is in order,” adding that the ADC state chairmen are entitled to a four-year tenure as provided for in the party’s constitution.
The case was filed by seven ADC state chairmen, who represented themselves as well as other state chairmen and state executive committees of the party. They argued that the David Mark-led leadership had no constitutional authority to organise state congresses or appoint congress committees while their elected tenure was still subsisting.
They asked the court to declare that only duly constituted
