Anambra ADC Chairman, Obianyo, Dissociates Self, State Exco from Today’s Planned Congress, Calls Exercise Illegal

By Tony Okafor, Awka

The Anambra State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Patrick Obianyo, has dissociated himself and the state executive committee of the party from the planned state congress scheduled for today, describing it as illegal and unconstitutional.

Obianyo, who spoke to one of our editors on the telephone, said the state executive committee had earlier written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) notifying it that all congresses of the party had been suspended.

He alleged that what is being presented as a congress was being organised by “disgruntled elements” who are not members of Exco of the party, insisting that the exercise is “illegal, null and void, and of no consequence whatsoever.”

“What they called a congress will not hold any water. INEC will not be there to observe it,” he said.

However, top party officials, including state and federal lawmakers as well as former aspirants of the party, are reportedly set to proceed with the state congress today, scheduled to begin at 12 noon.
The ADC has been embroiled in a leadership crisis at the national level, a situation that has also drawn the attention of INEC, which reportedly relied on a court ruling to take a position on the party’s internal affairs.

Some senior members of the party have, however, criticised INEC’s involvement, arguing that internal affairs of political parties are not justiciable.

Speaking to journalists in Awka, Senator Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra Central Senatorial District, expressed surprise at INEC’s position, describing it as inconsistent with established legal principles.

Umeh said it was surprising that the electoral body, led by a legal practitioner and professor of law, appeared to be disregarding long-standing judicial authorities on internal party disputes.

He said: “Well, the controversy over the leadership of the ADC is very simple and straightforward. We are talking about a court order relating to the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, and people are busy debating it, while INEC, headed by a professor of law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, feigns ignorance of the fact that no court in Nigeria has jurisdiction over internal affairs or leadership of a political party.

“The Supreme Court has, on several occasions, made this clear. The earliest was in 1983, when it held that courts do not entertain political questions. Internal party affairs are not justiciable.

“More recently, in 2025, the Supreme Court, in the case involving Senator Nenadi Usman against Julius Abure and the Labour Party, reaffirmed that courts lack jurisdiction to determine the leadership of political parties.

“Even the National Assembly, in amending the Electoral Act in 2026, reinforced this position in Section 83(5), stating that no court shall entertain matters relating to the internal affairs of political parties.

“So where is the ambiguity? The Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction, the Court of Appeal lacks jurisdiction, and even the Supreme Court has consistently maintained this position.

“Yet INEC is relying on these orders to act. That is unacceptable. Nigeria is governed by law, and these authorities clearly show that courts cannot interfere in the internal affairs of political parties.

“INEC, led by a professor of law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, ought to know better. Its reliance on such orders is misplaced and legally unsustainable.”