INEC, ADC clash over convention, party leadership

The Independent National Electoral Commission and the African Democratic Congress are at loggerheads over the party’s planned congresses and national convention, with the electoral body cautioning against proceeding without its supervision amid an ongoing leadership dispute.

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, raised concerns during an interview with Arise TV on Friday, warning that actions taken in defiance of subsisting court processes could have far-reaching consequences.

The warning followed the commission’s decision to de-recognise the leadership led by former Senate President, David Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

Amupitan noted that the commission’s position was guided by court orders and the need to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of the dispute.

He said that parties involved must avoid actions capable of undermining judicial proceedings.

That INEC boss added that proceeding with congresses or a convention while the matter remains before the court could expose the party to legal risks, recalling past electoral cases where victories were nullified due to procedural breaches.

“Don’t do anything. Don’t take any step that will render any proceeding before the court nugatory.

 “At the end of the day, after you have won, the court again will come and declare the election invalid,” he warned.

Despite the caution, the ADC rejected INEC’s stance and insisted it would go ahead with its scheduled activities.

The party, through its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the commission of misinterpreting legal provisions and overstepping its mandate.

The party argued that the existence of a preservation order does not amount to a prohibition on its internal processes, maintaining that no court had expressly barred it from conducting congresses or its convention.

ADC stated that its actions remain within the bounds of the law and the Electoral Act, insisting that democratic processes within the party cannot be suspended based on what it described as speculative interpretations.

“The ADC will therefore proceed with its activities in full compliance with the law,” the party stated, urging the electoral body to remain neutral and allow the courts to determine the issues in dispute.