A High Court sitting in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State has declined to hear a leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), striking out a suit filed by a faction of the party.
Justice A.K. Tukur ruled that the court lacks jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of a political party, citing provisions of the Electoral Act that restrict judicial intervention in such matters.
“We can’t interfere in party affairs,” the court held, adding that disputes of this nature are to be resolved internally by political parties in line with their constitution and procedures.
The judge consequently struck out the suit for want of jurisdiction, meaning the case was dismissed without a determination on its merits.
The ruling effectively ended the legal challenge filed by the Wamba-led faction, which had sought to contest actions taken by rival members of the party in the state. All reliefs sought by the plaintiffs were also dismissed.
The court noted that parties involved in the dispute may either resort to internal resolution mechanisms within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) or pursue other lawful avenues where applicable.
The latest judgment also set aside an earlier interim order issued by the same court, which had temporarily halted all activities of the party in Katsina State pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Previously, Justice Tukur had granted an ex parte application filed by the state party chairman, Usman Wamba, restraining rival factions from parading themselves as party stakeholders or conducting party affairs.
The earlier order also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the national leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission to suspend recognition or supervision of any contested congress in the state chapter of the party.
The suit stemmed from an internal leadership crisis within the ADC in Katsina State, with the plaintiff alleging attempts by rival factions to usurp his position as state chairman.
With the court’s latest decision, all interim directives have been vacated, leaving the party to resolve its leadership issues through internal mechanisms.
