ADC Reveals Next Step After Appeal Court Ruling, Says Primaries Stand

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said that it will challenge Monday’s Court of Appeal judgment at the Supreme Court, insisting that the ruling does not affect the party’s already concluded direct primaries.

This publication earlier reported that the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld a Federal High Court judgment restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or participating in any state congresses organised by committees appointed by the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the party.

In a split decision of two to one, the three-member appellate panel dismissed the appeal filed by the David Mark-led leadership and affirmed the earlier judgment delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on April 29.

Justice Okon Abang, who delivered the lead judgment, held that there was no reason to set aside the restraining order issued by the Federal High Court. The appellate court also upheld the order restraining the caretaker leadership from interfering with the tenure and functions of the party’s elected state executives.

The court ruled that the responsibility for conducting state congresses rests with the elected state executive committees and not the national caretaker leadership. It also declared that the congresses and national convention organised by the David Mark-led leadership were null and void because they were conducted in violation of an earlier court order.

Following the judgment, the ADC, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, assured members and supporters that the ruling would not affect the party’s direct primaries through which its candidates had already emerged.

“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) notes the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday in a matter relating to party congresses for the election of ward, local government and state executive committees of the Party,” the statement read.

The party added, “We wish to assure members of the Party and the general public that this judgment has no effect whatsoever on the direct primaries through which the Party’s candidates have emerged at all levels.”

The ADC also disclosed that it had already begun the process of appealing the judgment at the Supreme Court.

“The Party has already commenced the process of appealing the judgment, which we respectfully disagree with and consider to be legally unsustainable,” the statement said.

The party noted that it agreed with the dissenting judgment delivered by the presiding justice, saying it believed the minority decision “more accurately reflects the settled position of the law and the Party’s position.”

It urged its members and supporters to remain calm while reaffirming its commitment to providing Nigerians with what it described as “a credible alternative” in line with the Constitution and the rule of law.