INEC Warns ADC: ‘Go Ahead With Your Convention And Risk Disqualification For Defying Court Order’

 

INEC Warns ADC: ‘Go Ahead With Your Convention And Risk Disqualification For Defying Court Order’

The INEC cautioned that proceeding with the Congress in defiance of subsisting court orders could lead to severe legal consequences, including outright disqualification of the opposition party in the coming elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a stern warning to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over its insistence on going ahead with its congress and convention despite court orders restraining the party from taking further actions on its planned convention and congress.

The INEC cautioned that proceeding with the Congress in defiance of subsisting court orders could lead to severe legal consequences, including outright disqualification of the opposition party in the coming elections.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Friday, INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), distanced the electoral body from the internal crisis rocking the ADC, stressing that the commission is already a party in the ongoing litigation.

Responding to a question on the implications of ADC’s insistence on going ahead with its congress and convention, Amupitan said, “As far as we are concerned, INEC is a party in the case and INEC was sued as a defendant by a member of the ADC.

“Secondly, the court is very clear that parties, including David Mark himself, should refrain from doing anything that will fuel the situation of inter-complaints in the court.”

He warned that any decision by the party to proceed with its planned activities must be weighed against the existing court directives.

He said, “If they are going ahead with their congress, with their convention, it is left for them to look at it, whether it is in contravention of the Court of Appeal.

“INEC did not just take a decision. We didn’t just wake up one day and take the decision. There was something that led to it.

“There was an order of court not to do anything or take any step that would render any proceeding in court negatory, and also put the trial court in a situation of helplessness of inter-complainants.”

The INEC boss further revealed that the issue of congresses and conventions is already part of reliefs being sought before the court, warning that premature action could undermine the judicial process.

“So, if already they asked not to do any congress and convention, it is a relief that is being claimed, essentially the file in motion for that purpose which has not been determined,” he said.

Drawing from past electoral disputes, Amupitan cited the cases of Zamfara and Plateau states, where parties suffered legal setbacks after failing to comply with court orders.

“If they decide to go ahead with their congress and convention, let me tell you what happened in Zamfara,” he said.

“It has happened in the past, and we don’t want to conduct an election without this early warning, and at the end of the day, after you have won, the court will again declare your election invalid.

“The implication is that the person with the second highest number of votes will be declared a winner. It happened in Plateau State during the last election where the question of primaries was an issue.

“Congresses were not held in some parts of Plateau state. The court said, go and do those primaries.

“Unfortunately, they did not obey the court order. Failure to obey the court order has consequences.”

He reiterated that while the ADC is free to make its decisions, INEC will not act in a way that could violate judicial directives or interfere with ongoing proceedings.

“They are at liberty to do whatever they want to do but INEC will not want to go into a situation where there is an order of don’t do anything, don’t take any step,” he said.

“The judgment is very definite. If I proceed to monitor their convention, it means I’m taking steps that will affect the subject matter pending before the court.”

On Wednesday, the electoral body declared that it would suspend recognition of the Senator David Mark-led ADC faction, citing a court ruling.

Later on Wednesday, SaharaReporters confirmed that INEC had removed the names of the ADC leaders from its portal, replacing them with the notation “By court order.”

Subsequently, the ADC on Thursday called for the immediate resignation of the INEC Chairman, accusing the electoral body of partisanship and undermining Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The opposition party said its demand became necessary following what it described as the alleged alignment of the electoral umpire with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that the Commission has lost the credibility required to conduct free, fair and transparent elections.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, former Senate President, Senator Mark, criticised INEC’s decision to derecognise the leadership of the ADC, declaring that the party no longer has confidence in the Commission’s leadership.

He maintained that the party would not be deterred by INEC’s action, stressing that ADC would continue with its internal programmes in accordance with the law.

Mark further called on the international community to closely monitor developments within Nigeria’s electoral space, warning that recent actions by INEC could threaten democratic stability in the country.

 

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