The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising or participating in any congress organised by a disputed caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress.

The court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, also barred former Senate President, David Mark, and other prominent figures in the party from interfering with the functions and tenure of elected state executives.

The ruling is the latest development in the festering leadership dispute within the ADC, with clear implications for the control of party structures ahead of future political activities.

The case arose from an originating summons filed by Norman Obinna and six others on behalf of state chairpersons and executive committees of the party.

The plaintiffs challenged the legality of actions taken by a caretaker or interim national leadership, particularly the move to organise state congresses through an appointed committee.

They argued that the caretaker body lacked constitutional authority to organise such congresses or to appoint any committee for that purpose.

According to them, only duly elected party organs recognised under the party’s constitution possess the power to conduct congresses.

The plaintiffs, therefore, asked the court to affirm the tenure of the state executive committees and restrain any parallel processes that could undermine their authority.

In resolving the dispute, Justice Abdulmalik held that the claims brought before the court were valid and deserving of judicial consideration, especially in view of alleged breaches of constitutional and statutory provisions.

She stated that she found “the issue in the originating summons meritorious”.

The judge framed the central issue as whether the second to sixth defendants, including Mark, had the constitutional or statutory authority to assume the powers of elected state organs of the ADC, whose tenure is guaranteed under the party’s constitution.

She relied on section 223 of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates political parties to conduct periodic elections based on democratic principles, as well as Article 23 of the ADC Constitution, which provides that national and state officers shall hold office for a maximum of two terms spanning eight years.

According to her, “the question is whether there is any infraction committed by Mr Mark and co-defendants when they convened meetings and appointed a body known as a congress committee to organise state congresses.”

On the defence raised by the defendants that the matter was an internal affair of a political party and therefore outside the jurisdiction of the court, the judge acknowledged the settled legal position but clarified its limits.

She held that while courts are generally reluctant to interfere in internal party matters, they will intervene where there is a clear allegation of violation of constitutional or statutory provisions.

“The law is settled that courts will not interfere. However, where there is an allegation of breach of constitutional or statutory provisions, the court has a duty to intervene,” she ruled.

“Where a party alleges that its constitution has been violated, the court is bound to adjudicate. Any argument that this court lacks jurisdiction on that basis fails,” she added.

Hilda Dokubo, a veteran Nollywood actress, has been elected as National Woman Leader of the Labour Party (LP) after her months of suspension from the party was lifted by the National Working Committee, NWC.

Apart from Dokubo, the suspension of 25 other members was also lifted. They include Emmanuel Agida, Abayomi Arabambi, Ogar Osim, Muhammed Aliyu, Casmir Uchenna, Airen Igbinedion, Auwal Ahmed, and others.

The suspension was lifted on Tuesday during the national convention of the party held at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Abia State.

The decision to lift the suspension was taken through a voice vote by delegates from all states in attendance at the convention.

The chairman of the elective national convention, Ginger Onwusibe, announced the recall of the 26 members after a unanimous voice vote by the delegates.

Explaining the development, the newly elected National Chairman of the LP, Esther Nenadi-Usman, said the party followed the path of reconciliation and forgiveness.

Madam Habitat Abubakar, the mother of a 24-year-old civil engineer, Abdulsamad Jamiu, who was allegedly shot dead by soldiers in the Kubwa area of Abuja, has demanded justice for her son.

Abdulsamad, popularly known as Kesh, was reportedly killed inside his bedroom in the early hours of Saturday, April 26, 2026.

His mother was in Okene, Kogi State, with her husband for a burial and firdau prayers when the incident occurred.

She was said to have been shielded from the full details of her son’s death until she arrived at the family compound in Abuja, where she fainted after learning the truth.

She questioned the circumstances surrounding her son’s death and the alleged actions of the soldiers after the incident.

She said, “Why did they jump my fence? Why did they enter my son’s room? Why did they kill him? Why did they call the vigilance team to come and mop his blood? Why did they instruct them to go and bury my son’s brains?”

She described Abdulsamad as a responsible young man with a bright future.

“He was a responsible boy. He did not joke with his five daily prayers. He was straightforward. He had a bright future. He had plans for himself, for his siblings, for his mother. And just like that, his dream was cut off right in his room,” she said.

Abubakar appealed to President Bola Tinubu, the First Lady, Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, his wife, Sefiya, activists and Amnesty International to intervene and ensure justice for her son.

“This fight is too big for me. This pain is too big for me to bear,” she said.