Appeal court bars INEC from recognising Mark-led ADC congresses
The appeal court has barred the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognising congresses organised by the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC. The court said INEC should not take part in or give recognition to any state congresses arranged by committees set up by the party’s caretaker leadership. It held that the responsibility for conducting state congresses belongs to the elected state executive committees of the party, not the national caretaker leadership. The court also ruled that the tenure of the ADC’s state working committees and state executive committees remains valid until properly organised congresses are held and a national convention is conducted. In its ruling, the court said neither the Nigerian Constitution nor the party’s constitution gives the caretaker interim national working committee led by David Mark the power to appoint committees for state congresses. […]