By Umar Dankano, Yola.
The party congresses conducted by the African Democratic Congress, ADC has been nullified by a high Court sitting in Yola, Adamawa state yesterday (Monday)
Justice Isah Ahmed in his ruling declared that the exercise was invalid over breaches of laid down processes.
The Court held that the congresses violated Section 84(4) of the Electoral Act as well as Article 18 of the ADC Constitution therefore stand null and void.
It (Court) ruled that, the defendants failed to adhere to laid-down guidelines and instead relied on what the judge described as “self-imposed procedure”
The ruling followed a suit filed by the Adamawa State Chairman of the party, Comrade Shehu Yohanna, who challenged the conduct of the congresses for failing to comply with established legal and party procedures.
. Reacting to the ruling, a chieftain and former publicity secretary of the ADC, Hon.Martins Dickson said that the party received the development in good faith and was waiting for the decision of the leadership of the party in Abuja for the next line of action to be taken.
Dickson said that the judgement of the court is on the party’s Congresses with the implications that all executive officials of the party that came through that process can not be operational for now.
But he was quick to add that the Electoral Act has removed all obstacles concerning the activities of the party saying that the card carrying members can authorize any member or members to carry out certain operations of the party including duties of the executives if need be.
The publicity secretary called on the party members and supporters to be calm as the state leaders have met and communicated with the national leadership for necessary action.
He also urged the public to disregard the claim by one Comrade Shehu Yohanna who addressed immediately after ruling saying he is the chairman of the party asserting that even justice Isah Ahmed’s ruling recounted that the earlier Judgement of justice Manji of High Court Yola that ousted Yohanna as leader of the ADC party in the state still stands.