The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed a suit seeking the removal of former Senate President, David Mark, and ex-Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Chairman and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik struck out the case on the grounds that it concerned the internal affairs of a political party, which the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain.
Delivering judgment, the judge held that issues relating to the leadership and membership of political parties are voluntary matters that should be resolved internally by the parties concerned.
She maintained that political parties are voluntary associations and, as such, disputes over their leadership structures or membership cannot be adjudicated upon by the courts.
According to Abdulmalik, aggrieved members of any political party should utilise the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms to address their grievances.
The judge further stated that where members are dissatisfied with the outcome of such internal processes, they retain the option of leaving the party to join another political platform.
She emphasised that cases relating to party membership and leadership are non-justiciable, stressing that the court cannot assume jurisdiction over such matters.
The suit had sought the removal of Mark and Aregbesola from their respective positions in the ADC’s national leadership.
However, with the ruling, the court effectively affirmed that disputes over party leadership remain matters for political parties to settle internally rather than through judicial intervention.
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