The African Democratic Congress, ADC, State Chairmen’s Forum has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to comply with subsisting court judgments on the party’s leadership dispute ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Chairman of the forum, Ogga Kingsley Temitope, made the call in a statement on Friday, warning that continued non-compliance could expose the party and its candidates to legal uncertainties.
Temitope said the Federal High Court in Abuja, in a judgment delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on April 29, nullified the congresses and convention that produced the David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the party.
He said the court held that the processes leading to the emergence of the leadership did not comply with the ADC Constitution and the Electoral Act 2026.
According to him, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, in a two-to-one judgment delivered on July 13, upheld the Federal High Court decision.
Temitope argued that the appellate court judgment meant that INEC should not recognise the Mark-led faction as the legitimate leadership of the ADC.
He alleged that INEC had continued to engage with the Mark-led faction despite the court decisions, prompting the court-recognised state chairmen to take legal action against the commission.
The forum chairman warned that candidates emerging from an invalidated leadership structure could face what he described as a “nullity trap” if their nominations were challenged before an election tribunal.
He explained that victory at the polls might not be enough if the nomination process was later declared invalid because it originated from a leadership structure voided by the courts.
Temitope also cautioned stakeholders against relying solely on stays of execution, saying such orders suspend enforcement pending further proceedings but do not automatically overturn the judgment.
He urged the Mark-led faction to engage the court-recognised leadership, pursue reconciliation and regularise the party’s internal processes ahead of the 2027 elections.
The ADC chieftain also cited previous instances where INEC had faced contempt proceedings over alleged disobedience of court orders, warning that continued non-compliance could attract sanctions.
He called on INEC and all factions within the ADC to respect the rule of law and ensure that the party enters the 2027 electoral cycle with a legally recognised leadership.
Temitope expressed hope that the leadership dispute would be resolved in the interest of the party and the democratic process at the next court proceedings scheduled for September 29.
