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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The National Rescue Movement (NRM) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to comply with the court judgment that settled the leadership crisis plaguing the party.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) referenced the March 5, 2025 judgment of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court, which ordered INEC to recognize the Chief Edozie Njoku-led national executives.
It lamented that while the judgment has not been challenged more than a year ago, the electoral body had yet to obey the court’s orders.
Already, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court had last Wednesday, summoned INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, last Wednesdayto appear before it on March 10 in a contempt charge filed by the party over alleged disobedience to its orders regarding the party’s leadership crisis.
The court directed the service of a hearing notice on the INEC Chairman to enable him to appear and explain why its judgment was flouted.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chinedu Anselm Nebeife, said the NEC had met in Abuja on March 6 and aligned with the position of the National Working Committee (NWC), which reaffirmed the authority of extant court decisions concerning the party’s leadership.
The statement reads: “In furtherance of the NWC meeting of the NRM, the NEC sat to ratify the decisions arising from it. It reviewed the current state of the party and deliberated on matters of urgent importance affecting its leadership, organization, and compliance with lawful directives.
After extensive deliberations, the NEC ratified as follows:
“The NEC reaffirmed the validity and authority of the court order of January 16, 2025, mandating INEC to monitor the Emergency National Convention of January 17, 2025, and the March 5, 2025, judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, directing INEC to recognize the outcome of the said Emergency National Convention.
“Accordingly, the NEC called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately comply with the court’s judgment by recognizing the Chief Edozie Njoku-led leadership of the party.
“The NEC stressed that respect for the rule of law and obedience to court orders remain fundamental pillars of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
The NEC noted with concern that several positions within the committee had become vacant. These vacancies arose following the resignation and departure of some members frustrated by the prolonged delay in recognizing the party’s lawful leadership.
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“To restore full administrative functionality and strengthen the party’s organizational structure, the NEC ratified the recommendations brought forward by the NWC to fill the vacant positions according to the provisions of the constitution, as amended in 2025.
It noted that the National Convention is not needed for replacing vacant positions, which can be handled by the NWC and ratified by the NEC—without reverting to a National Convention, which is required only when the office of the National Chairman is involved.
