The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted media reports alleging that it disobeyed a Federal High Court order issued in Osogbo, Osun State, concerning the leadership crisis within the Action Alliance (AA) political party.
Reports earlier in the week claimed that the court had ordered the arrest of former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for allegedly failing to comply with a judgment delivered on September 29, 2025, which recognised the Rufai Omoaje-led faction of the party and directed INEC to update its records accordingly.
However, in a statement signed by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC described the reports as “misleading”, accusing some media outlets of omitting key facts about the commission’s actions after the judgment.
“The misleading reports omitted the commission’s subsequent steps on the case, erroneously portrayed a matter involving a corporate entity, INEC, as a personal issue, and created the wrong impression that a fresh order was issued,” Olumekun said.
According to INEC, it had already taken steps to comply with the court’s decision by filing relevant documents at the Federal High Court, Osogbo, on October 6, 2025, well within the timeframe set by the court. The commission also provided evidence from its website dashboard showing recognition of the AA executive elected during the party’s convention held on October 7, 2023, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
INEC further noted that while a counter-affidavit was filed alleging partial compliance — specifically, that the list omitted the National Chairman, Rufai Omoaje — the commission clarified that it cannot recognise Omoaje due to a subsisting Court of Appeal judgment that had previously sacked him as chairman.
“The judgment of the Court of Appeal is superior to that of the Federal High Court. Hence, the commission cannot list Omoaje’s name as chairman while the appellate court’s decision remains in force,” Olumekun stated.
Reaffirming its commitment to the rule of law and judicial compliance, INEC urged the media to uphold ethical standards and ensure proper fact-checking before publication to avoid misleading the public.
