The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned the African Democratic Congress that holding its planned convention in defiance of a court order could lead to the nullification of any election victory the party achieves in 2027.
INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan delivered the stark warning on Friday, April 3, during an interview on Arise TV, citing precedents from Zamfara and Plateau states where similar violations resulted in electoral victories being overturned.
“Let me tell you what happened in Zamfara. It happened in the past. We don’t want to conduct an election without this early warning, and at the end of the day, after you have won, the court again will come and declare the election invalid.
“And the implication is that the person with the second highest number of vote will be declared the winner,” Amupitan said.
The warning follows the ADC’s indication that it would proceed with its congresses and national convention despite INEC’s withdrawal of recognition from the leadership linked to former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
Amupitan stressed that INEC’s decision was not arbitrary but anchored on a valid court order directing parties to avoid actions that could undermine pending legal proceedings.
“So if they are going ahead with their congress, with their convention, it’s left for them to look at it, whether it is in contravention of the court. INEC didn’t just take a decision.
“We didn’t just wake up one day and took this decision. There was something that led to it. There was an order of court,” he explained.
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The chairman said the court had specifically instructed all parties involved to refrain from steps that could prejudice ongoing cases.
“Don’t do anything. Don’t take any step that will render any proceeding before the court nugatory,” he stated.
He noted that the question of whether the party should hold congresses and conventions remains a live issue before the courts.
“So, if already they are asking that don’t do any congress, don’t do any convention, it is a relief that is being claimed. And especially they filed a motion for that purpose, that motion has not been determined,” Amupitan added.
He referenced the Plateau State governorship election as another instance where failure to comply with court directives had electoral consequences.
“It happened in Plateau State during the last election… failure to obey the court order has consequences,” he said.
While acknowledging the party’s freedom to make its own choices, the INEC chairman made clear the commission would not allow itself to be drawn into another avoidable crisis similar to past cases.
“They are at liberty to do whatever they want to do, but INEC do not want to go into this situation again,” he concluded.
The warning adds another layer of complexity to the ADC’s internal crisis, which has seen competing factions lay claim to the party’s leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.