An Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday ordered all parties in a suit over the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case.
Justice J.O. Abdulmalik gave the order after an application for adjournment by counsel to one of the defendants to respond to the plaintiffs’ filings.
The plaintiffs, led by Don Norman Obinna and six others, are suing on behalf of state chairmen and state executive committees of the party.
Those listed as defendants include the ADC, David Mark, Patricia Akwashiki, Bolaji Abdullahi, Rauf Aregbesola, Oserheimen Osunbor, and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The plaintiffs are challenging the legality of a caretaker or interim national working committee headed by Mark, arguing that it lacks the constitutional authority to organise state congresses or appoint congress committees.
They are also seeking declarations affirming that their tenure as state executive committees remains valid and that only properly constituted state executives can conduct congresses.
In addition, they urged the court to restrain INEC from recognising or participating in any congress organised by the caretaker committee.
The suit marks the latest twist in the party’s lingering leadership crisis, which centres on control of its structures ahead of planned congresses.
At the core of the dispute is the role of the interim national working committee, which some stakeholders accuse of exceeding its constitutional powers.
The plaintiffs insist that under the party’s constitution and the 1999 Constitution (as amended), state executive committees remain in office until valid congresses are held.
Justice Abdulmalik directed parties to file all necessary processes and warned against any action that could undermine the case, adjourning the matter to April 23 for hearing, even as the Mark-led leadership pushed ahead with plans for a national convention in Abuja despite venue challenges.
