Court Order IGP To Arrest INEC Chairman Over Contempt

The Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State capital, has ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, for contempt and disobedience of court orders.

The court’s decision followed a suit filed by the Action Alliance against INEC.

The Action Alliance had approached the court seeking an order to compel INEC to recognise all state chairmen elected under the leadership of Adekunle Rufai Omoaje’s National Executive Committee.

The court had earlier ruled in favour of the Action Alliance, directing INEC to recognise the state chairmen. However, INEC failed to comply with the order, leading to contempt proceedings.

Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi, presiding over the case, expressed displeasure at INEC’s stance on the matter.

The court awarded a cost of N100,000 against the INEC chairman and gave him seven days to restore the names of all chairmen elected under Omoaje’s leadership to the commission’s portal.

Failure to comply within the specified timeframe will result in the arrest of the INEC chairman by the police.

The court’s decision to order the arrest of the INEC chairman stems from his refusal to comply with a previous order.

The Action Alliance had sought an order to compel INEC to recognise state chairmen elected under Omoaje’s leadership.

The court maintained that the national convention that produced Omoaje as the National Chairman of the party was valid, as it was monitored by INEC officials and conducted in line with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.