ADC faction protests at INEC over court order dispute

Threatens contempt proceedings

From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja

Tension flared in Abuja on Wednesday as a faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), loyal to its National Chairman, Nafiu Bala, stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding immediate compliance with a subsisting court order.

The protest, led by Dr Abimiku Monday, Special Adviser on Strategy to the ADC National Chairman, accused INEC of deliberately flouting a March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which directed parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the matter before the Federal High Court.

In a fiery address, the group described the commission’s alleged refusal to comply with the court order as a blatant assault on the rule of law and a dangerous precedent that could undermine Nigeria’s democracy.

They stressed that, by virtue of Section 287(2) of the Constitution, all authorities and persons are bound to enforce the decisions of the courts without exception.

The party disclosed that it had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to INEC, warning that failure to comply would compel it to initiate contempt and committal proceedings against the commission’s leadership.

Declaring the protest peaceful but firm, the demonstrators called on Nigerians and civil society organisations to defend democratic principles, chanting, “Obey the Court! Respect the Constitution! No to impunity!”

Responding to the protesters, Mohamed Ambrou, Assistant Director of Security at INEC headquarters, said the commission’s leadership was currently unavailable, as they were attending a workshop in Lagos.

He explained that the INEC Chairman, National Commissioners and Directors were all out of Abuja for the engagement. Still, he assured the group that any document submitted would be delivered to the Chairman and attended to.