INEC warns ADC against holding convention, congresses

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, has cautioned the African Democratic Congress, ADC, against proceeding with its planned congresses and national convention without the commission’s oversight, warning that such actions could be nullified.

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Mr Amupitan issued the warning on Friday during an interview on Arise TV, in response to the party’s insistence that it would go ahead with its convention despite INEC’s decision to remove the leadership led by David Mark from its official portal.

He stressed that INEC’s position was based on a subsisting court order and not an arbitrary decision.

“So if they are going ahead with their congress, with their convention, it’s left for them to look at it, whether it is in contravention of the court. INEC didn’t just take a decision.

“We didn’t just wake up one day and take this decision. There was something that led to it. There was an order of court,” he said.

The INEC chairman explained that the court had expressly directed parties to refrain from taking any steps capable of undermining ongoing legal proceedings.

“Don’t do anything. Don’t take any step that will render any proceeding before the court nugatory,” Mr Amupitan stated.

He noted that the issue of conducting congresses and conventions is already before the court, with a pending motion yet to be determined.

“So, if already they are asking that don’t do any congress, don’t do any convention, it is a relief that is being claimed. And especially they filed a motion for that purpose, that motion has not been determined,” he added.

Citing past precedents, Mr Amupitan warned that defiance of court orders could have far-reaching consequences, including the invalidation of election victories.

“Let me tell you what happened in Zamfara. It happened in the past. We don’t want to conduct an election without this early warning, and at the end of the day, after you have won, the court again will come and declare the election invalid.

“And the implication is that the person with the second highest number of vote will be declared the winner,” he said.

He also referenced a similar situation in Plateau State, where failure to comply with court directives affected electoral outcomes.

“It happened in Plateau State during the last election… failure to obey the court order has consequences,” he added.

While acknowledging that the ADC is free to make its own decisions, the INEC boss emphasised that the commission would not be drawn into avoidable legal and electoral crises.

“They are at liberty to do whatever they want to do, but INEC do not want to go into this situation again,” he said.