INEC CLEARS AIR ON ACTION ALLIANCE COURT CASE

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BY MUNIRAT BALOGUN

Says reports on alleged contempt are misleading, insists it obeyed Osogbo court order within time.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed claims that it disobeyed a Federal High Court order in Osogbo, Osun State, over the leadership crisis rocking the Action Alliance (AA).

In a statement on Thursday, the Commission described as misleading reports alleging that the court ordered the arrest of its immediate past chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for contempt.

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, said the reports were distorted and failed to reflect the Commission’s subsequent compliance actions.

“The misleading reports mischievously omitted the Commission’s subsequent action on the case, erroneously portrayed the matter involving a corporate entity as an individual affair, and gave the wrong impression that the Court issued a fresh order,” Olumekun said.

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He explained that INEC had already complied with the judgment by October 6, 2025, within the court’s deadline, and tendered evidence showing recognition of the Action Alliance executives elected at the party’s October 7, 2023 convention in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

According to the Commission, its website dashboard reflecting compliance was submitted as proof.

However, the judgment creditors reportedly accused INEC of partial compliance for listing only four national executives without including Rufai Omoaje, the embattled National Chairman.

INEC clarified that it could not list Omoaje’s name because he had already filed a Notice of Appeal at the Supreme Court challenging his removal by the Court of Appeal—whose judgment, the Commission noted, remains legally binding.

“The judgment of the Court of Appeal is superior to that of the Federal High Court. Hence, the Commission cannot list Omoaje’s name while that judgment subsists,” Olumekun stressed.

The electoral body urged journalists and media organisations to verify their reports before publication to avoid misleading the public on sensitive legal matters.

INEC reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the rule of law and maintaining its long-standing tradition of complying with all valid court orders.