Court Orders ADC to Halt National Convention, Maintain Status Quo
The internal crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) deepened on Tuesday as the Federal High Court in Abuja restrained the party from proceeding with its planned national convention, ordering all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of a substantive suit.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the interim order following an ex parte application filed by seven aggrieved members of the party, who approached the court on behalf of themselves and other stakeholders, including state chairmen and members of state executive committees.
In the ruling, the court directed that no further steps be taken regarding the planned convention, warning that any action that could alter the existing situation would undermine ongoing judicial proceedings.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026, lists the African Democratic Congress as the 1st defendant, while several national officers of the party are joined as respondents. Also joined in the case are prominent party leaders and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Those named include Senator David Mark, Senator Patrick Akwashiki, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, and INEC.
The court further ordered that all parties in the suit must maintain the status quo ante bellum and refrain from taking any steps capable of rendering the proceedings nugatory. The matter has been adjourned to April 23 for definite hearing.
The ruling comes amid a widening leadership tussle within the ADC, which has seen multiple factions laying claim to control of the party structure ahead of its scheduled national convention.
The latest order effectively freezes preparations for the convention until the substantive issues before the court are resolved.
