Atiku visits Amaechi as court barred INEC from recognising ADC congresses

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday paid a visit to former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi at his Abuja residence, the same day a federal high court barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising congresses organised by the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Atiku, in a post on his official X account, described the meeting as “engaging and fruitful,” while praising his host.

“Amaechi is a statesman whose distinguished service as a two-time Speaker, two-time Governor, and two-time Minister continues to echo in the annals of our national life. I remain deeply grateful for the warmth, grace, and generosity of spirit with which he received me and my delegation,” he wrote.

The visit came as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja delivered a significant ruling in the ADC’s ongoing internal crisis. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a judgment arising from suit FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026, restrained INEC from recognising or participating in any congress organised by committees appointed by the Mark-led caretaker leadership.

The court further restrained the Senator Mark-led group from interfering with the tenure and functions of elected state executives of the party, holding that the responsibility for conducting state congresses rests with state executive committees and not the national leadership.

It also ruled that the four-year tenure of the ADC’s State Working Committees and State Executive Committees remained valid and subsisting, pending the conduct of properly constituted congresses and the convocation of a national convention.

The suit was filed by seven aggrieved ADC members — Don Norman Obinna, Johnny Tovie Derek, Obah C. Ehigiator, Hon. Olona Yinka, Dr Charles Idowu Omideji, Samuel Pam Gyang, and Obianyo Patrick — who sued on behalf of themselves and all state chairmen and state executive committees of the party.

Listed as defendants are the ADC, Senator David Mark, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, representing the Caretaker/Interim National Working Committee, and INEC.

The plaintiffs had challenged the decision of the Mark-led leadership to constitute a congress committee for the purpose of conducting state congresses, a move the court has now effectively nullified.

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