From: Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
The Federal High Court, sitting in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to officially recognize Hon. Adekunle Rufai Omoaje as the national chairman of the Action Alliance (AA).
The court has also ordered INEC to update its official portal to include Omoaje’s name as the authentic national chairman of the Action Alliance.
In its ruling regarding a case brought by Omoaje, the court criticized INEC for its failure to comply with a previous decision made on November 11, 2024. This earlier judgment mandated INEC to recognize all members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) elected during the party’s national convention in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in October 2023, where Omoaje was elected as national chairman.
Despite the ruling, INEC only listed the names of other NEC members on its portal, excluding Omoaje’s name.
Justice Demi-Ajayi, delivering the verdict on Thursday, emphasized the need for INEC to fully comply with the court’s earlier judgment by including the names of all NEC members, including Omoaje, within the seven-day timeframe.
The court affirmed Omoaje’s election as national chairman and instructed INEC to update its records accordingly.
The judge highlighted the distinction between partial and substantial compliance, expressing concern that INEC’s actions did not constitute full compliance with the court’s ruling. She stated, “Partial compliance is no compliance.”
Furthermore, the judge clarified that filing an appeal does not constitute a stay of execution and that INEC is expected to comply fully with the court’s order.
The court found that INEC’s conduct reflected a lack of respect for the court and suggested a potential bias in its actions. As a result, the court imposed a cost of ₦100,000 against INEC.
