Three aggrieved members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have dragged the party and its newly constituted interim leadership to the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order to nullify the appointment of Senator David Mark and others as interim executives.
The plaintiffs—Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Victor Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila—are challenging the legality of the interim appointments, describing them as unconstitutional and in violation of the ADC’s 2018 Constitution (as amended).
In the suit filed with number FHC/ABJ/CS/1328, the ADC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the party’s immediate past National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, are listed as the 1st to 3rd defendants. Others joined in the suit are Senator David Mark (Interim National Chairman), former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (Interim National Secretary), and former Minister of Sports Bolaji Abdullahi (Interim National Publicity Secretary), as 4th, 5th, and 6th defendants respectively.
The plaintiffs asked the court to determine, among other issues, whether the appointment of the new interim leaders contravened the provisions of the party’s constitution, and whether the individuals appointed were validly registered members of the ADC.
They also questioned whether the party’s constitution permits the formation of interim leadership positions in the absence of a duly convened National Convention or a decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
Another key issue raised by the plaintiffs is whether the transfer of leadership by the former chairman to the new interim team constitutes a violation of an existing court judgment delivered in December 2022 by Justice Binta Nyako in suit FHC/ABJ/1541/2022.
In their reliefs, the plaintiffs urged the court to declare the appointments of Senator Mark, Aregbesola, and Abdullahi as null, void, and inconsistent with the ADC constitution. They also requested that INEC refrain from recognizing the interim executives.
No hearing date has been fixed for the suit.
