A High Court sitting in has issued an interim order restraining the (ADC) from conducting its congresses in the state, further intensifying the party’s ongoing internal crisis.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Ahmed Isa, followed a suit instituted by the party’s Adamawa State Chairman, Shehu Yohanna, alongside three other applicants. The plaintiffs are challenging the legitimacy and fairness of the planned congresses, naming the chairman of the congress committee, Ishaya Bauka, and other parties as defendants.
In its decision, the court directed all parties involved to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. The matter has been adjourned to April 15, 2026, for further proceedings.
Despite the court order, the congress committee maintained that it is unaware of any legal restriction halting its activities. The committee insisted that preparations for the party’s national convention remain on course.
Through his counsel, Joshua Onoja, Yohanna urged the court to intervene, citing alleged violations of party guidelines and lack of due process in the organization of the congress.
The development adds to the deepening leadership crisis rocking the ADC at the national level. The party has been embroiled in factional disputes, leaving it without a widely recognised leadership structure.
Earlier, the (INEC) announced that it would no longer accept correspondence from either of the major factions within the party—those aligned with and Nafiu Bala—pending the resolution of ongoing legal disputes.
INEC, in a statement signed by Mohammed Kudu, also disclosed that it would not monitor any congresses, conventions, or meetings organised by either faction until a final court decision is reached. The commission further indicated plans to remove David Mark’s name from its official records.
The Bala faction had earlier challenged the legitimacy of the Mark-led caretaker committee in court, further complicating the party’s leadership structure. Both factions have since staged separate demonstrations, each laying claim to the party’s leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a related development, the Mark-led faction has approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order to compel INEC to reverse its decision on the party’s leadership records. The group is requesting a mandatory injunction directing the electoral body to restore the names of its National Working Committee members and resume monitoring its activities.
The unfolding legal battles and internal divisions continue to cast uncertainty over the stability and future of the ADC, raising concerns about its preparedness for upcoming political engagements, particularly the 2027 general elections.
