A Federal High Court has declined jurisdiction over the leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in a ruling seen as a legal victory for the camp led by David Mark.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Liman held that the dispute concerns the internal affairs of the ADC and therefore falls outside the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.
The court further ruled that the matter is not a pre-election case and does not come within the scope of Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Justice Liman also found that the plaintiff lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to institute the suit and had failed to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanisms prescribed by the ADC Constitution before approaching the court.
Case Struck Out
Based on the findings, the court struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction.
The ruling reinforces the legal principle that political parties are expected to resolve internal disputes through the mechanisms provided in their constitutions before seeking judicial intervention.
Further details of the court’s decision are expected as the judgment is being delivered.
More details will follow…
