Appeal Court Upholds Ruling Against INEC Recognition of David Mark-Led ADC Congresses
The Court of Appeal has affirmed a lower court's decision barring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing congresses led by David Mark within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), ruling the dispute a non-justiciable internal party matter.
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The Court of Appeal has upheld a Federal High Court judgment restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing congresses convened under the leadership of David Mark in the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The appellate court, in its ruling, agreed with the lower court that the dispute over the legitimacy of the Mark-led congresses falls within the realm of internal party affairs and is therefore non-justiciable, according to Justice Mohammed’s judgment cited by Peoples Gazette.
“The case that precipitated the restraining order bordered on a non-justiciable internal affair of a political party,” Justice Mohammed held, as reported by Peoples Gazette.
Business Day confirmed the appeal court’s affirmation of the Federal High Court’s order, which prohibits INEC from according official recognition to the contested ADC gatherings led by Mark.
The judgment underscores the judiciary’s reluctance to intervene in intra-party disputes, particularly where recognition of party leadership structures is concerned. By classifying the matter as internal, the court effectively limits the role of both INEC and the judiciary in resolving factional conflicts within political parties.
No further appeals or official responses from INEC or the ADC leadership were reported in the immediate aftermath of the ruling.