Don’t tamper with our leadership, AA chairman tells INEC

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The Action Alliance (AA) has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to tamper with the composition of its National Executive Committee (NEC), as well as its leadership in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The AA, in a statement by its national secretary, Vernimbe James, said the warning has become necessary owing to alleged pressure on INEC by some interests to tamper with the list of its validly elected members.

The opposition party said it will resist any attempt to change the leadership of its state chapters, as submitted to INEC by its national chairman, Kenneth Udeze.

“We wish to remind the Commission that three separate Court of Appeal judgements, sitting in the Abuja division, conclusively settled the leadership tussle rocking the Action Alliance (AA) in favour of Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze’s led leadership of the party,” it stated.

The party noted that while there are allegedly attempts by some people to secure an order from the Federal High Court, such orders cannot hold water.

“It is elementary in law that there is a hierarchy of courts; the Federal High Court is inferior to the Court of Appeal, and after the Court of Appeal delivers its judgement on the same subject matter, the Federal High Court cannot set it aside.

“Considering the hierarchy of courts, the judgement obtained from the Federal High Court Osogbo against three Abuja division of the Court of Appeal cannot hold water, and the Commission is urged not to recognise same or act upon it in the interest of justice.

“Action Alliance (AA) has since conducted its National Convention on Saturday, February 22, 2025, and affirmed Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze’s led leadership of the party for a fixed term in office, and the said National Convention was duly monitored by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“The Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Commission’s monitoring report of the said National Convention is already in the public domain to see,” the AA scribe further stated.