The Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or taking part in any congress conducted by the disputed caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik also restrained former Senate President David Mark and other party stakeholders from interfering with the responsibilities and tenure of elected state executives.
The judgment comes as the party awaits a decisive ruling from the Supreme Court on its lingering leadership crisis, following an appeal filed by the faction aligned with Mark.
The case was instituted by Norman Obinna and six others representing ADC state chairmen and executive committees, who challenged the legitimacy of actions taken by the interim leadership.
They argued that the caretaker body lacked the constitutional authority to organise state congresses or set up committees for that purpose, urging the court to protect their tenure and halt any parallel structures.
In her decision, Justice Abdulmalik ruled in favour of the plaintiffs, stating that their claims were valid and deserving of relief.
She emphasised that the central issue was whether the defendants, including David Mark, had any legal or constitutional power to assume the functions of elected state organs whose tenure is guaranteed.
The judge cited Section 223 of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates democratic internal processes in political parties, alongside provisions of the ADC constitution that outline fixed terms for party officials.
