…ADC State Working Committees (SWC) accused the NWC of violating party rules by constituting committees to oversee the April state primaries,
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | A fresh crisis has engulfed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as chairmen from the 36 states and the FCT have dragged the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to court over alleged flagrant disregard for its constitution.
ADC State Working Committees (SWC) accused the NWC of violating party rules by constituting committees to oversee the ADC April state primaries, describing the move as an encroachment on the statutory duties of state party chairmen.
They are therefore asking the court to grant a perpetual interlocutory injunction restraining the NWC, led by Senator David Mark, from conducting the primaries pending the final resolution of the suit.
In an originating summons filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on March 18, the plaintiffs are seeking an urgent determination on whether the interim working committee set up by the NWC has the legal standing to organise the state primaries.
They also want the court to clarify whether, based on Section 223 of the 1999 Constitution, Article 17 of the ADC Constitution, and a mediation report dated December 23, 2023, the four-year tenure of the elected state and executive committees remains valid until proper congresses and a national convention are held.
Furthermore, the plaintiffs are asking the court to decide whether, under Articles 19(7) and (9) of the party’s constitution, only the state executive committees have the authority to organise party congresses.
The suit also questions whether the “Caretaker/Interim National Working Committee” has the constitutional power to appoint members of congress committees for the conduct of state congresses, and whether such appointments are unconstitutional, null, and void.
Filed by Don Norma Obinna and six others on behalf of the state chairmen, the suit lists ADC, NWC chairman David Mark, INEC, and four others as defendants.
Among the reliefs sought is an order restraining the defendants and their agents from interfering with the duties, functions, and tenure of the state executive committees.
The court has yet to fix a date for the hearing of the case.
