The Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, has issued an order directing the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, over allegations of contempt of court and disobedience of lawful orders.
The order, which has sparked national attention, was given by Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi on Monday during proceedings involving a legal dispute between the Action Alliance (AA) political party and INEC.
The case stems from a suit filed by the Action Alliance seeking the court’s intervention after INEC allegedly failed to comply with an earlier court ruling. The party had requested that the electoral body recognise all its state chairmen elected under the leadership of Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, the party’s National Chairman.
The court had previously ruled in favour of the Action Alliance, affirming the legitimacy of the national convention that produced Omoaje as National Chairman. It held that the convention was valid as it was conducted in line with the party’s constitution and monitored by INEC officials in accordance with the Electoral Act.
Despite this ruling, INEC reportedly refused to update its records to reflect the leadership changes. This act of non-compliance led to the initiation of contempt proceedings against the INEC chairman.
Justice Demi-Ajayi, visibly displeased with INEC’s conduct, said the electoral umpire had shown disregard for the rule of law and the authority of the court. She then issued an order for the arrest of Professor Yakubu, should he fail to comply with the court’s instructions within seven days.
The court also imposed a fine of ₦100,000 on the INEC chairman, directing him to restore the names of all state chairmen elected under Omoaje’s leadership to the INEC online portal. Failure to do so within the seven-day window would lead to his arrest by the police, the judge warned.
This development has raised serious concerns about compliance with judicial orders by public institutions, especially one as critical as the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Speaking after the court session, representatives of the Action Alliance praised the ruling, saying it was a victory for internal democracy and judicial integrity. They accused INEC of taking sides in internal party matters and ignoring valid court judgments, which they described as dangerous for Nigeria’s democratic process.
So far, neither INEC nor its chairman has publicly responded to the court order. It also remains to be seen how the Inspector-General of Police will act on the court’s directive.
The case highlights the ongoing tension between political parties and electoral institutions over issues of recognition, internal democracy, and compliance with the law. It also puts pressure on INEC, as Nigerians increasingly call for greater accountability and transparency from public office holders.
As the seven-day deadline approaches, all eyes are now on INEC and the police to see how they respond to the Osogbo court’s ruling.
