The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed reports suggesting that the Federal High Court in Abuja sacked its elected but yet-to-be-inaugurated State Chairmen, insisting that the ruling did not terminate the tenure of the party’s current State Executives.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the party said its attention had been drawn to media reports claiming that the court, presided over by Justice Joyce O. Abdulmalik, removed the newly elected state chairmen following its judgment on the party’s congresses.
The ADC clarified that the congresses conducted earlier did not truncate the tenure of the existing State Executives, whose tenure, according to the party, remains valid until it runs its full course.
“The attention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been drawn to media reports that the Federal High Court, presided over by Hon. Justice Joyce O. Abdulmalik, has sacked the elected, but yet to be inaugurated, State Chairmen of our party,” the statement read.
“It would be recalled that we issued a statement shortly after the congresses stating that the congresses did not truncate the tenure of the current State Executives, which will run their full course before the newly elected State Executives are inaugurated.”
The party said despite its position, the leadership has directed its legal team to carefully review the judgment and provide proper legal advice on the next line of action.
“Nevertheless, the leadership of the ADC has instructed its legal team to review the said judgment and advise the party appropriately,” the statement added.
The statement was signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.
The clarification comes amid growing attention over the Federal High Court ruling which restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising congresses organised by committees appointed by the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the party and reaffirmed the authority of the existing elected state structures.
