ADC TIGHTENS GRIP ON LITIGATION, REFERS ALL PENDING CASES TO LEGAL ADVISER

African Democratic Congress (ADC) has directed all its state chapters and officials nationwide to immediately refer any court processes served on the party to the National Legal Adviser, warning that no state chapter or officer has the authority to receive legal service on behalf of the party or engage lawyers without prior written approval from the national headquarters.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgment in an appeal filed by Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola against the judgment of the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja, which barred them from dissolving the party’s State Working Committees (SWCs).

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC stressed that only the National Legal Adviser “is constitutionally empowered to instruct legal practitioners or represent the party in legal proceedings”, adding that violations of the directive could attract disciplinary action under the party’s constitution.

The statement reads: “The ADC has been drawn to reports that court processes relating to the party are being served on some state chapters of the party and that, in certain instances, legal practitioners have been engaged purportedly on behalf of the party without the knowledge, consent or authority of the National Legal Adviser.

“For the avoidance of doubt and in accordance with the Constitution of ADC, only the National Legal Adviser of the party is authorised to issue letters of instruction to any legal practitioner to represent, act for, or take steps on behalf of the party in any court, tribunal, arbitration, administrative proceeding or other legal process.”

THE judgment billed to be delivered by the appellate court yesterday was put off at the eleventh hour and adjourned till July 13, 2026. No reason was given for the shift announced yesterday afternoon after lawyers, newsmen and politicians had taken their seats and waited for more than two hours.

A registrar of the court, who refused to disclose his name, simply entered the courtroom and announced that the judgment had been postponed and would be delivered on Monday, July 13, in the afternoon.

In the appeal, the ADC, Mark, and Aregbesola are challenging the decision of Joyce Abdulmalik, which prevented them from shortening the four-year tenure of the party’s state officers.

The state chairmen represented by Don Obinna, Johnny Derek, ObahEhigiator, Yinka Olona, Dr Charles Omideji, Samuel Gyang and Patrick Obianyo, acting as plaintiffs, had sued for themselves and on behalf of all state chairmen and State Executive Committees (SECs) of ADC.

The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/58/2026 listed the following as defendants: ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, Abdullahi, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, who is also sued on behalf of the Caretaker/Interim National Working Committee (NWC), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).