Reactions as Court Orders IGP Egbetokun to Arrest Ex-INEC Chair Yakubu for Contempt

A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for contempt of court.

The order, issued on Tuesday, stemmed from an application by the Action Alliance (AA), which accused the former INEC boss and the commission of failing to comply with a subsisting court judgment.

Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi had earlier, in suit number FHC/OS/CS/194/2024, ruled that INEC must recognise the leadership of Adekunle Omoaje as the authentic National Chairman of the Action Alliance, alongside members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) elected at its October 7, 2023 convention. The court affirmed that the convention was properly monitored by INEC officials in line with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

Despite the judgment, AA argued that INEC had refused to fully comply, noting that Omoaje’s name and those of other NEC members were yet to be uploaded on the commission’s official portal.

In a fresh ruling, the court directed the IGP to enforce the order and initiate contempt proceedings against Yakubu within seven days.

The order, signed by Mr. O. M. Kilani on behalf of the Court Registrar, stated: “It is hereby ordered that the IGP shall cause the arrest and shall charge the defendant/judgment debtors for contempt and committal proceedings within seven days of this ruling.”

The court also awarded N100,000 costs against the judgment debtors.

Reactions Trail Court Order

Meanwhile, the development has sparked a wave of reactions from civil society and political stakeholders, with several groups calling for accountability and caution in the process of appointing Yakubu’s successor.

National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Mr. Peter Ameh, accused Yakubu of undermining Nigeria’s multi-party democracy during his tenure, alleging that several smaller political parties were unfairly treated under his watch.

“Prof. Yakubu’s era at INEC marked a period when smaller parties were systematically weakened through administrative and procedural decisions that discouraged inclusiveness,” Ameh said. “The court’s order is a reflection of the frustration many political actors faced under his leadership.”

Similarly, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, said Yakubu’s decade-long tenure, though notable for introducing reforms such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), ultimately left behind a “weakened” commission.

“INEC under Yakubu implemented important reforms, but it failed to build strong institutional credibility,” Itodo observed. “The 2023 elections exposed the fragility of the commission’s independence and operational transparency.”

HURIWA Warns Against Partisan Appointment

In a related development, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged President Bola Tinubu to avoid appointing a partisan loyalist as the next INEC chairman.

The rights group warned that doing so could reverse the modest electoral gains made in recent years and undermine public trust ahead of the 2027 general elections.

HURIWA stated: “The President must resist the temptation to hand the electoral umpire to a political ally. The independence of INEC is the cornerstone of democracy, and appointing a partisan individual would endanger Nigeria’s fragile electoral credibility.”

Background of the Dispute

The Action Alliance crisis dates back to October 2023, when factions within the party held parallel conventions that produced rival leaderships. The Omoaje-led faction sought judicial recognition, arguing that its convention was properly conducted under INEC supervision.

Justice Demi-Ajayi’s ruling in favour of the Omoaje faction was expected to end the leadership tussle, but the party maintained that INEC’s failure to reflect the names on its website amounted to disobedience of court orders.

The court’s latest directive now places responsibility on the police to enforce compliance and bring Yakubu before the court for contempt proceedings.

Observers say the ruling adds to growing scrutiny of INEC’s internal governance and compliance record following Yakubu’s exit from office.