By: Femi Mustapha
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected allegations that it disobeyed a court order issued by the Federal High Court in Oshogbo, Osun State. Reports emerged stating that on September 29, 2025, the court ordered the arrest of the former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for allegedly failing to comply with a judgment in a case involving the Action Alliance (AA).
In a statement released by Sam Olumekun, a National Commissioner and the Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, the Commission described the reports as misleading.
INEC clarified that it had complied with the court’s directive before the deadline expired.
On Monday, October 6, 2025, within the stipulated deadline, INEC filed documentation at the Federal High Court in Oshogbo to demonstrate its compliance with the judgment, which mandated recognition of the Action Alliance’s executives elected on October 7, 2023, in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The Commission provided evidence of this compliance through the dashboard of its website.
However, when the judgment creditors expressed concerns that INEC had listed only four national executives and excluded the party’s National Chairman, Rufai Omoaje, the Commission responded by presenting the Notice of Appeal filed by Omoaje with the Supreme Court. This appeal challenges the Court of Appeal’s decision that removed him from his position as chairman.
INEC emphasized that the judgment of the Court of Appeal takes precedence over that of the Federal High Court. Therefore, the Commission cannot list Omoaje’s name as the National Chairman of the Action Alliance while the Court of Appeal’s judgment is still in effect.
