A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered parties in a fresh suit on the leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order while ruling on an application for adjournment by a lawyer to one of the defendants to enable him file a response to the plaintiffs’ processes.
Listed as plaintiffs in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026 are Don Obinna, Johnny Derek, Onah Ehigiator, Olona Yinka, Charles Omideji, Samuel Gyang and Obianyo Patrick suing for themselves and on behalf of all the state Chairmen and state Executive Committees of the ADC).
Defendants include the ADC, Sen. David Mark, Sen. Patricia Akwashiki, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Abdulmalik, in her ruling, also directed all parties to file their relevant processes, adding that pending applications would be heard alongside the substantive suit.
The judge further ordered that all parties should refrain from taking any steps that could render the court proceedings nugatory.
She also directed that hearing notices be served on the affected defendants ahead of the next sitting.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned till April 23 for definite hearing.
The plaintiffs are challenging the legality of a caretaker or interim national working committee, which they alleged lacks the constitutional authority to organise state congresses or appoint congress committees.
They are seeking declarations that their tenure as state executive committees remains valid and that only duly constituted state executive committees have the authority to organise state congresses.
They also urged the court to restrain INEC from recognising or participating in any congress organised by the caretaker committee.
