The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied reports that it violated a court order issued by the Federal High Court in Oshogbo, Osun State, 11 days ago, describing the media accounts as misleading.
The reports claimed that the court, on September 29, 2025, ordered the arrest of the immediate past INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, for allegedly disobeying its judgement in a case involving the Action Alliance (AA).
Reacting to the development, INEC clarified that it has not breached any order of the court and had already complied with the judgement within the stipulated time.
The statement was signed by Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee.
“In line with its long-established tradition of always obeying court judgements and orders, the Commission on Monday, 6th October 2025 — still within the deadline — filed processes at the Federal High Court, Oshogbo, to show that we had complied with its judgement and order of recognising the Action Alliance’s executive elected on 7th October 2023 at Abeokuta, Ogun State,” the Commission said.
According to INEC, evidence of compliance was presented through the dashboard of its official website, which reflected the recognised AA executives.
However, the Commission explained that the judgement creditors filed a counter affidavit, claiming partial compliance because the name of the National Chairman, Rufai Omoaje, was omitted.
INEC said it responded by attaching a Notice of Appeal filed by Omoaje at the Supreme Court, where he is challenging the judgement of the Court of Appeal that had earlier removed him as the party’s chairman.
“The judgement of the Court of Appeal is superior to that of the Federal High Court; hence, the Commission cannot list Omoaje’s name as the National Chairman of the Action Alliance when the Appeal Court judgement is still subsisting,” the statement clarified.
The Commission urged media organisations to verify their reports before publication to avoid misleading the public.