Adamawa ADC Leadership Crisis: Komsiri, lawyer hail court’s landmark judgment
A major turning point emerged on Thursday in the running leadership imbroglio rocking the Adamawa State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as the State High Court struck out a suit filed by Comrade Yohanna Shehu Kambile.
The case, heard by Justice Benjamin Manji of High Court IX, was instituted by Kambile and his secretary challenging the dissolution of their executive committee before the expiration of its supposed tenure.
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They also sought a declaration that the interim structures led by Sadiq Dasin and Saidu Komsiri were illegitimate.
The defendants in the suit included prominent political figures such as Ambassador Umar Sulaiman, Sadiq Dasin, Saidu Komsiri, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir David Lawal, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), its national chairman Senator David Mark, and the ADC as a corporate entity.
Speaking after the judgment, counsel to the defendants, Barr. Evarastus Odo, described the ruling as a “very interesting and significant victory for internal party democracy.”
He revealed that the court upheld the preliminary objection of the defence, affirming that the dispute was purely an internal party matter in which the court lacked jurisdiction to intervene.
According to him, “The court agreed with us that the matter is an intra-party dispute. Political parties are voluntary associations, and the court is generally cautious about delving into matters that members can resolve within their systems. On that basis alone, the suit was struck out.”
Although the jurisdictional objection alone was sufficient to nullify the suit, the court proceeded, being a court of first instance, to examine its merits. Barr. Odo noted that on the substantive issues, the plaintiffs again failed.
“Kambile could not even prove that he was duly elected as chairman in 2022. It is only when you establish an election that you can talk of tenure. The court held that they did not prove their case.
”Furthermore, even if they had been elected, the constitution of the ADC gives the National Working Committee the authority to dissolve state executives and constitute interim committees.
”The court’s findings effectively validated the leadership of the transition committee headed by Barr. Sadiq Dasin and the interim state leadership under Hon. Saidu Komsiri,” he said.
In a reaction titled “The Storm is Over, Justice Has Spoken,” Komsiri expressed deep emotion and relief over the judgment, describing it as “a victory for every grassroots stakeholder who stood firm for justice.
“For months, we passed through confusion, accusations, and sleepless nights. But today the truth has stood tall. This victory belongs to every ward mobilizer, every woman leader, every youth, and the entire ADC family that refused to allow injustice to prevail,” he said.
Demonstrating conciliatory statesmanship, Komsiri extended a hand of fellowship to Shehu Yohanna noting that they remain comrades in arms.
“I hold Mr. Shehu Yohanna in high esteem. Disagreements are normal in politics, but this ruling has clarified everything. When a tenure has expired, it expires. When there is no congress, there can be no substantive claim,” he said.
He also offered gratitude to the Waziri Adamawa, whom he credited for providing “fatherly neutrality and immense guidance” during the turbulent period.
Komsiri said the party would now focus on reconciliation, rebuilding, and repositioning ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“This judgment marks the end of confusion and internal distractions. Let us rise together, stronger than ever,” he said.
He assured the national leadership under Senator David Mark and the coalition’s political family that the Adamawa ADC, now united, would deliver on its commitments.
