The crisis between the National Working Committee and the State Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over who is to conduct the State Congress/ primaries of the party has taken a new turn as a Federal High Court has adjourned the case to April 23 for definite hearing.
The State Working Committee had last month accused the National Working Committee of breaching the party’s constitution by setting up various committees to conduct the State Congress/primary elections which was slated for April and said it was a clear usurpation of the functions and responsibilities of the state party chairmen.
The suit filed by Don Norma Obinna and six others on behalf of the 36 State Party Chairmen and FCT joined the party, the NWC chairman, David Mark, INEC and four others as the defendants.
In an originating summons brought before the Federal High Court Abuja and dated 18th of March, 2026 , the plaintiffs through their Counsels want the court to urgently determine whether the interim Working Committee set up by the NWC has the locus standi to organize the state party primaries or the State Working Committee .
The plaintiffs also want the court to determine whether by the community reading of Sec 223 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended) Article 17 of the Constitution of the ADC and mediation report dated 23 Dec 2023, the four years tenure of the elected state working committee and the state executive committee of the party subsists, pending the conduct of a valid state Congress and convocation of National convention
They also want the court to determine whether on the combined reading of Article 19(7) and (9) of the Constitution of the party, it is not the exclusive function of the state executive committee to organize the Congress of the party
The originating summons also wants the court to determine whether having regard to Article 19(7) of the Constitution of the party, the body described as ” Caretaker/ Interim National Working Committee” constituted by the party posseses the constitutional authority to appoint a Congress committee members for the purpose of conducting the state Congress of the party.
However, when the case came up for hearing on Tuesday April 14 the trial judge Justice J.O Avdulmalik having considered the oral application for adjournment by Mr Marcel Ebinine, counsel to the sixth defendant, (David Mark) for him to respond to the plaintiff processes
Ordered as follows;
That all parties should file their consequential processes to enable the matter see the light of the day
That all parties in the matter shall maintain status quo ante bullum and shall not take further steps in the matter so as not to render nugatory the proceedings before the court
The judge further ordered that the 1st — 5th defendants be served hearing notice for the definite hearing.
He therefore adjourned the case to April 23 for definite hearing.
