Democratic Congress (ADC), led by former Senate President David Mark, on Tuesday went ahead with its National Convention in Abuja despite a court order directing the party to halt the exercise and maintain the status quo.
The convention, which drew political figures and delegates from across the country, ratified the party’s constitution and the processes that produced Mark as leader of the current faction.
The development came amid heightened legal and political tensions surrounding the party’s leadership crisis, with the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, earlier ordering the party not to proceed with the convention pending the hearing of a suit filed by seven aggrieved members.
Justice Abdulmalik directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum and adjourned the matter to April 23 for definite hearing.
Also on Tuesday, the Supreme Court fixed April 22 to hear an appeal relating to the ADC’s leadership dispute. The appeal seeks to overturn an earlier Court of Appeal judgment which also ordered all parties to maintain the existing situation pending the resolution of a separate suit filed by aggrieved party members led by Nafiu Bala Gombe.
Despite these legal hurdles, the convention proceeded at the Rainbow Event Centre in Abuja, where party leaders described the gathering as valid and necessary for the survival of democracy in Nigeria.
Among the notable figures present were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former governors Aminu Tambuwal, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Donald Duke, Liyel Imoke, and several other senior political stakeholders.
Diplomatic representatives from China, Britain and Norway were also reported to be in attendance.
One of the major highlights of the event was the arrival of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, whose presence drew significant attention from delegates and party supporters.
Earlier in the day, the party had alleged attempts by authorities in the Federal Capital Territory to prevent the use of the convention venue.
ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, claimed that the management of the Rainbow Event Centre informed the party of alleged pressure from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, threatening to revoke the venue’s licence if the convention was allowed to hold there.
According to Abdullahi, the party had fulfilled all financial obligations and had a binding agreement with the venue owner.
Speaking at the convention, David Mark said the ADC would not yield to intimidation or political pressure.
“In an ever-shrinking democratic space, the ADC will not bow, will not be cowed, and we will not retreat,” he said.
He added that the party’s struggle was not merely about opposition politics but about protecting democratic rule in the country.
“What is at stake is not just the opposition, but the very survival of democracy in Nigeria,” Mark said.
He noted that rather than weaken the party, recent challenges had strengthened its internal unity and expanded its coalition efforts.
According to him, the ADC is positioning itself as a credible alternative platform capable of delivering accountability, transparency and people-focused governance.
During the convention, delegates ratified key decisions taken at the party’s 97th to 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings.
Among the major resolutions adopted were the dissolution of the National Working Committee (NWC), the installation of a caretaker leadership, and the expulsion of some members over alleged anti-party activities.
Those expelled included Nafiu Bala Gombe and House of Representatives member Leke Abejide.
Delegates also approved earlier decisions to suspend zoning provisions and relax the controversial “two-year rule” on membership, a move party leaders said would broaden participation and leadership opportunities.
Out of the 2,105 expected delegates, 1,542 were accredited for the convention.
Meanwhile, ADC National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola declared the convention valid and accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of failing in its statutory responsibility by refusing to attend and monitor the exercise.
Aregbesola insisted that the party had complied with all legal requirements, including the mandatory 21-day notice to INEC.
He described the electoral body’s absence as an “abdication of responsibility” and alleged that the refusal to monitor the convention could undermine public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Democracy without opposition is autocracy. Opposition is the institutional conscience of the republic,” he said.
In a related development, another Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, declined an application by the David Mark-led faction seeking to consolidate and hear all pending motions, including the substantive suit in the Nafiu Bala Gombe case.
Justice Nwite ruled that proceeding with the matter while jurisdictional issues were already before the Supreme Court would be inappropriate.
He held that the lower court should await the decision of the apex court before taking further steps.
In a separate economic development, the naira appreciated against the dollar in both the parallel market and the official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM).
The local currency strengthened to N1,403 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,412 recorded on Monday.
Similarly, in the official market, the naira appreciated to N1,348 per dollar from N1,358, reflecting a gain of N10.
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria showed that turnover in the interbank foreign exchange market rose sharply to N141.32 million, representing an increase of 268.9 per cent from N38.3 million recorded the previous day.
The gap between the official and parallel market rates widened slightly to N55 per dollar from N54.
ADC Holds Abuja Convention Despite Court Order as Naira Gains Across Markets ABUJA — The African
