The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate removal of Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing him of deliberate misinterpretation of a court order in the party’s leadership dispute.
Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, David Mark,
national chairman of the ADC, said the electoral body can no longer be trusted,
describing its actions as unlawful and partisan.
Mark noted that the controversy followed a March 12 judgment
of the court of appeal, which directed all parties, including INEC, to maintain
status quo pending resolution of the case before the federal high court.
He said his legal team had challenged the jurisdiction of
the federal high court, but the appeal was dismissed, leaving the directive to
preserve the existing ADC leadership.
“After the judgment, lawyers associated with Nafiu Bala
sought recognition from INEC in a manner that distorts the meaning of status
quo ante bellum,” Mark said, alleging that these actions were backed by the
ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which he accused of attempting to
weaken opposition parties.
“It is not the ADC that is under attack. This is a direct
assault on Nigeria’s democracy and the right of Nigerians to choose,
participate, and exercise their rights as free citizens,” Mark added.
“We have witnessed how the APC-led Federal Government has
undermined, compromised, and coerced other opposition political parties. The
ADC has risen as the last bastion between Nigeria’s democracy and full-blown
dictatorship. And this is what worries them.”
Mark said it came as a shock when INEC, on April 1,
announced the withdrawal of recognition for both his leadership and the faction
linked to Bala, creating a “false equivalence” between the parties.
He insisted that Bala had already resigned from party
leadership, and could not be validly recognised as a factional leader.
“The crux of the matter is the interpretation of status quo
ante bellum. There is no legal precedent that supports INEC’s conclusion,” Mark
said, criticising the commission for failing to seek judicial clarification if
uncertain, and accusing it of acting with bias.
He noted that INEC has effectively left the ADC without a
recognised leadership, adding that the commission lacks the constitutional
authority to determine or impose leadership on political parties.
“At no time was the ADC without a duly constituted
leadership. INEC has invented a status quo that never existed,” Mark said.
“The commission cannot decide who leads a political party.
That power does not belong to INEC.”
He said the electoral body’s action amounts to contempt of
court and undermines the rule of law.
“There is only one conclusion: the electoral umpire has
taken sides. It can no longer be trusted,” Mark added.
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