A Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has directed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, for contempt and disobedience of court orders. The ruling was issued on September 29, 2025, following a suit filed by the Action Alliance against INEC.
The Action Alliance had approached the court seeking to compel INEC to recognize all state chairmen elected under the leadership of Adekunle Rufai Omoaje's National Executive Committee. Although the court had previously ruled in favor of the party, directing INEC to recognize these state chairmen, the commission failed to comply, prompting contempt proceedings.
Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi, presiding over the case, expressed displeasure at INEC’s failure to follow the court’s directives. The court imposed a ₦100,000 cost 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 will result in the INEC chairman’s arrest by the police.
The court affirmed that the national convention that produced Omoaje as National Chairman was valid, as it was monitored by INEC officials and conducted in line with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act. The ruling also upheld the suspension and expulsion of Kenneth Udeze, who INEC had previously recognized as the national chairman of the Action Alliance.
This decision has significant implications for INEC and the Action Alliance. INEC must comply with the court order or face the consequences of contempt. The ruling underscores the importance of respecting the rule of law and adhering to court directives in Nigeria’s democratic and electoral processes.
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