Tuesday, September 30, 2025 - 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.
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