Professor Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has advised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) not to move forward with its plans for congresses and a national convention while a leadership conflict is ongoing.
In an interview with Arise News on Friday, Amupitan indicated that INEC would not oversee any congresses or conventions organized by the party due to a current court order.
He emphasized that any actions taken by the ADC prior to a definitive court ruling on its internal issues would be deemed illegal. He highlighted the electoral body’s obligation to respect judicial directives and could not validate actions that contradict them.
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The INEC chairman also warned of potential severe repercussions if the party proceeds with these gatherings and primary elections, mentioning that candidates selected through such methods may face disqualification, even if they win elections.
He referenced past electoral disputes in Zamfara and Plateau States, where court decisions invalidated candidate victories due to improper party procedures, resulting in courts declaring second-place candidates as winners.
Amupitan encouraged ADC leaders to proceed with caution and await the court’s ruling before organizing any congresses or conventions to prevent history from repeating itself with electoral failures.
