The Action Alliance AA on Monday resolved to file orders 48 and 49 against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu on the refusal of INEC to upload the name of its national chairman, Dr Adekunle Rufai Omoaje on its portal and website.
The party stated that the failure of the INEC to give proper recognition to Omoaje is a flagrant disobedience to court judgments.
The AA also expressed worry over the refusal of the INEC chairman to honour the Supreme Court judgment which affirmed the suspension and subsequent expulsion of Mr Kenneth Udeze from the party.
Arising from an important meeting of the forum of state chairmen of the party held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, the chairmen of the party across the states of the federation lamented the actions of the INEC chairman, alleging that he is continually biased on issues affecting the party.
In a communique signed by the Chairman, forum of State chairmen of the party who is also the Rivers State chairman, Hon Nwigbarto Dumbari and secretary of the forum, Mrs Omotosho Rashidat Ololade, the party recounted that different courts including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Abuja, the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court held that Udeze is not a member of the party.
The communique issued at the end of the meeting expressed displeasure on the disposition of the INEC chairman to expelled members of the party; Udeze, one Vernibe James, together with members of their team.
Furthermore, AA noted that for the INEC Chairman to recognize both Udeze and Vernibe who have been expelled from the party for long and whose expulsion the Supreme Court had affirmed was an aberation on the part of INEC.
The leaders of the party recalled that the Supreme Court had in a suit marked SC/1488/2022 held that Udeze is not a member of the Action Alliance, and therefore expressed worry on how a non-member of the party can be the national chairman of the party.
The party also noted that in a letter dated 6th March 2024, INEC confirmed that Udeze is not a member of the party and registered their disappointment on the sudden change of narrative by INEC.
Furthermore, the party leaders wondered why INEC has refused to give recognition to Omoaje as the party’s national chairman, threatening that it will not hesitate to take legal actions against the commission and its chairman if it fails to abide by the Supreme Court ruling henceforth.
Udeze, according to the state chairmen of the party, did not emerge from any national convention of the party, unlike Omoaje who was elected the national chairman of the party at the elective national convention of the party held at the Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta in Ogun State.
The AA state chairmen stated that the convention was attended by INEC representatives, security operatives and adequately covered by the media.
