By Moromoke Akanji
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.
Mr Ogga Temitope, Chairman of the forum, gave the warning in a statement on Friday, saying non-compliance could create legal uncertainties for the party and its candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Temitope said democracy could not thrive where court judgments were obeyed selectively or only when convenient.
He said the dispute followed a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Abuja on April 29, by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
According to him, the court 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 provisions of the ADC Constitution and the Electoral Act 2026.
Temitope also said the Court of Appeal, Abuja, in a two-to-one judgment delivered on July 13, upheld the Federal High Court decision.
He argued that the appellate court’s decision meant that INEC should not recognise the Mark-led faction as the legitimate leadership of the ADC.
The forum chairman alleged that INEC had continued to engage with the Mark-led faction in spite of the judgments, prompting the court-recognised state chairmen to institute legal action against the commission.
Temitope warned that the development could expose ADC candidates to what he described as a “nullity trap” if their nominations were later challenged on the grounds that they emanated from an invalidated leadership structure.
He said winning an election might not be sufficient if the nomination process was subsequently challenged before an election tribunal.
The ADC chieftain also cautioned stakeholders against relying solely on stays of execution, saying such orders suspended enforcement pending further legal proceedings but did not automatically overturn a judgment.
He urged 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 referred to previous instances in which INEC had faced contempt proceedings over alleged non-compliance with court orders.
He warned that continued non-compliance could attract sanctions and have consequences for the party and its candidates.
He called on INEC and all factions within the ADC to respect the rule of law and ensure that the party entered the 2027 electoral cycle with a legally recognised and properly constituted leadership.
Temitope said the ADC had an opportunity to make significant gains in 2027 but could only achieve a sustainable victory if its internal processes were legally sound.
He expressed hope 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 Sept. 29. (NAN)
Edited by Tosin Kolade