INEC lawyer misleading court, Action Alliance says

From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure

The Action Alliance (AA) has informed the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was misleading the court as regards its judgment directing it (INEC) to recognise Hon. Adekunle Rufai Omoaje as the national chairman of the party.

The party said contrary to the judgment of the court directing INEC to put the name of Omoaje on its portal, the commission has failed to comply, saying that it only complied partially by putting the names of the National Executive Committee (NEC) members elected alongside Omoaje at the elective national convention of the party held in October 2023 in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Appearing before Justice Funmilayo Demi-Ajayi at the resumed hearing of the case instituted by the party on Thursday, counsel to the AA, Mr O.K. Etibo, said the counsel to INEC was misinforming the court as regards the real situation of the party.

He said in compliance with the directive of the court, his client had written to the Supreme Court seeking a date to hear the suit before it but no date has been fixed by the apex court.

Justice Demi-Ajayi had at the last hearing of the suit told the party to seek a date when the Supreme Court will hear the matter before it which INEC said was instituted by Omoaje.

Counsel to INEC, Mr Gilbert, had told the court that the commission has complied with the judgment of the court but based its decision not to include the name of Omoaje on its portal on the pending suit before the Supreme Court.

But Etibo reported back to the court that a letter had been written to the Supreme Court to know the level at which the case before it is.

He agreed with the counsel to INEC that the case is pending before the Supreme Court but no date has been fixed for it.

Gilbert, who represented INEC, said the AA appeal is pending before the Supreme Court on the same subject matter, but Etibo said it was wrong information and told him to stop misinforming the court.

Justice Funmilayo Demi-Ajayi however, adjourned the case to December 9 for ruling.