• Gombe-led faction seeks suspension of form sales pending court ruling
• Party alleges plot to pressure Justice Nwite to recuse himself

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said that it will comply with the Federal High Court ruling that halted state congresses.

The party stated that, in view of the High Court’s position, it would not be conducting any state congress and directed that all subsisting state executives would continue to function until further developments permit a different approach.

The party also called on its members to disregard any scheduled congresses at this point, describing them as machinations of agents of destabilisation.

The party said those agents only seek to create confusion within the party and must be rebuked. This was contained in a statement by the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who emphasised that “the attention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been drawn to a purported plan by some individuals to commence congresses in certain states.

“We want to clarify that, based on the subsisting ruling of the High Court, the ADC is not conducting any congresses until the tenure of the current executives expires.

“We therefore urge loyal party members to disregard any invitations to attend such congresses, as they are merely machinations by agents of destabilisation seeking to cause confusion within the party”.

Also, the ADC, led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, yesterday, called for the immediate suspension of the sale and purchase of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms pending the determination of a case before the Federal High Court.

The directive formed part of resolutions reached at the meeting of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) in Abuja.

In a communiqué after the meeting and signed by the ADC BoT Secretary, Mr Rufus Akanmi, the party warned that anyone proceeding with the purchase of forms despite the directive would do so at his own risk.

The board also acknowledged and commended the Supreme Court of Nigeria over its judgment delivered on April 30, 2026, describing the ruling as a landmark contribution to constitutional democracy and the rule of law within the Nigerian political system.

According to the communiqué, “the attention of David Mark and all esteemed members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is formally drawn to the ongoing sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms.

“All parties concerned are directed to immediately suspend the sale/purchase of such forms pending the final determination of the matter currently before the Federal High Court.”

The BoT further called on members of the coalition within the party and the faction led by David Mark to put aside partisan interests and work with the leadership of Gombe in the interest of party unity.

Meanwhile, the ADC has alleged that the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government is mounting pressure on Justice Emeka Nwite to recuse himself from the case involving Gombe, challenging the leadership of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola.

The party also warned the Federal Government to keep off judicial matters and immediately cease all alleged attempts to interfere in the ongoing case involving Gombe.

The party said it has uncovered a disturbing plot by desperate forces within the corridors of power to frustrate the course of justice by mounting pressure on Justice Nwite to step aside from the case so that it can be reassigned to judges perceived to be pliable and politically compliant.