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 leadership dispute within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Chairman of the forum, Ogga Temitope, made the call in a statement on Friday, warning that failure to comply with the judgments could create legal uncertainties for the party and its candidates.
Temitope said democracy could not thrive where court decisions were selectively obeyed or complied with only when convenient.
He said the dispute stemmed from a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Abuja on April 29 by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, which, according to him, nullified the congresses and convention that produced the David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the party.
He said the court found that the processes leading to the emergence of the leadership did not comply with provisions of the ADC Constitution and the Electoral Act 2026.
Temitope further stated that the Court of Appeal in Abuja, in a two-to-one judgment delivered on July 13, upheld the Federal High Court’s decision.
According to him, the appellate court’s ruling meant that INEC should not recognise the Mark-led faction as the legitimate leadership of the ADC.
He warned that continued recognition of the disputed leadership could expose ADC candidates to what he described as a “nullity trap” if their nominations were challenged on the grounds that they originated from an invalidated leadership structure.
“Winning an election may not be enough if the nomination process is subsequently challenged before an election tribunal,” he cautioned.
The ADC chieftain also urged stakeholders not to rely solely on stays of execution, explaining that such orders only suspend the enforcement of a judgment pending further legal proceedings and do not automatically invalidate or overturn the substantive decision.
He called on the Mark-led faction to engage with the court-recognised leadership, pursue reconciliation and regularise the party’s internal processes ahead of campaigns and candidate selection for the 2027 elections.
Temitope also cited previous instances in which INEC had faced contempt proceedings over alleged non-compliance with court orders, warning that continued disregard for judicial decisions could attract sanctions and have consequences for the party and its candidates.
He urged 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 and properly constituted leadership.
Temitope said the ADC had an opportunity to make significant gains in the 2027 elections but stressed that any sustainable victory would depend on the legality and credibility of its internal processes.
He expressed optimism that the leadership dispute would be resolved in the interest of the party and the wider democratic process at the next court proceedings scheduled for September 29.
(NAN)
