- She emphasized that all parties must refrain from any action capable of making the proceedings ineffective
- The matter was adjourned to April 23 for hearing
- The court also ordered that all pending applications in the matter be heard together with the main suit
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday restrained the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from going ahead with its planned national convention, further escalating the party’s internal leadership crisis.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the order was issued by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik while ruling on a suit brought before the court by seven aggrieved members of the party.
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Delivering her decision, the judge directed all parties involved in the case to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the substantive suit, warning that no further steps should be taken that could undermine the court process.
She emphasized that all parties must refrain from any action capable of making the proceedings ineffective, adding that maintaining the existing situation was necessary to preserve the subject matter of the case.
Justice Abdulmalik also ordered that the defendants be properly served with hearing notices ahead of the next sitting of the court.
The matter was adjourned to April 23 for hearing.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026, was instituted by seven ADC members who claimed to be representing themselves as well as state chairmen and state executive committees of the party.
The plaintiffs include Don Norman Obinna, Johnny Tovie Derek, Obah Ehigiator, Hon. Olona Yinka, Dr. Charles Idowu Omideji, Samuel Pan Gyange, and Obianyo Patrick.
Named as defendants are the ADC, some of its national leaders, including Senator David Mark, Senator Patrick Akwashiki, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The court also ordered that all pending applications in the matter be heard together with the main suit, since they are supported by affidavit evidence.
The ruling came on a day when the Supreme Court fixed April 22 for hearing an appeal related to the party’s ongoing leadership tussle.
A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, directed the faction aligned with former Senate President David Mark to file and serve its processes on all respondents within 24 hours.
The appeal seeks to overturn a Court of Appeal decision which had earlier ordered the parties to maintain the status quo in a related dispute involving another group of aggrieved members.
The leadership crisis within the ADC has continued to deepen, with rival factions laying claim to control of the party’s national structure.
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