The leadership tussle in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took a legal turn on Wednesday following a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja that voided disputed party congresses, with a former presidential candidate of the party, Dumebi Kachikwu, and state chairmen commending the ruling.
Speaking at a press conference shortly after the judgment, they welcomed the decision that invalidated congresses and a convention organised by a faction led by former Senate President, David Mark.
Earlier, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or participating in any congress organised by a disputed caretaker leadership of the party. The court also barred Mark and others from interfering with the activities of elected state executives, ruling that only constitutionally recognised organs of the party are empowered to conduct congresses.
The suit was filed by Norman Obinna and six others on behalf of ADC state chairmen and executive committees.
Reacting to the judgment, Kachikwu described it as long overdue, insisting it vindicated their position.
He said: “I had long warned that the ADC is not for sale and that these political buccaneers would be shown the way out through the same back door they came in from.
“With this judgment, it has become clear that these desperados who attempted to hijack our party have failed woefully. We are aware that they are shopping for other parties to destroy and wish them bon voyage”, he added.
He urged party members to remain vigilant, adding that the struggle was not over.
“The ADC will be on next year’s ballot, and any Nigerian who genuinely desires to salvage Nigeria should see the ADC as a ready home. We shall overcome”, he said.
Also speaking, Chairman of the ADC State Chairmen, Kingsley Oggah, described the ruling as a relief and a validation of their stance.
He said the judgment had helped resolve internal disputes threatening the survival of the party.
“We see today’s court judgment as a blessing because what we have been fighting for has been resolved. We don’t want this party to die because we have laboured so much and spent time that can’t be quantified building it”, Oggah said.
He warned that continued internal divisions could affect the party’s ability to field candidates in future elections and risk possible deregistration by INEC.
