INEC Chairman Warns ADC Against Holding Congresses Amid Court-Ordered Derecognition
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has cautioned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against proceeding with its planned congresses and national convention without the commission’s oversight.
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Amupitan issued the warning on Friday during an interview on Arise TV, following ADC’s indication that it would go ahead with the events despite INEC’s derecognition of leaders linked to former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola. He emphasized that ignoring the commission’s directive could have serious legal consequences.
“The commission’s decision is based on a subsisting court order, not arbitrary discretion,” Amupitan stated. “The court specifically directed parties to refrain from any action capable of undermining pending proceedings. Don’t take any step that will render any proceeding before the court nugatory.”
He noted that the matter of conducting congresses and conventions is currently before the courts, and defying court orders in similar past instances has had significant repercussions. Drawing from historical precedents, he explained that failure to comply with court directives could nullify election results, sometimes resulting in the candidate with the second-highest votes being declared the winner.
“Let me tell you what happened in Zamfara… and in Plateau State during the last election. Failure to obey the court order has consequences,” he added.
While acknowledging the party’s right to act independently, Amupitan made it clear that INEC would not allow itself to be drawn into another avoidable electoral crisis.
“They are at liberty to do whatever they want, but INEC does not want to go into this situation again,” he said.
The warning underscores INEC’s resolve to ensure that political parties operate within legal boundaries as the country prepares for upcoming elections.
INEC Chairman Warns ADC Against Holding Congresses Amid Court-Ordered Derecognition