Politics
Obey Order On AA In Six Days, Court Directs INEC, Yakubu
The court also reaffirmed its earlier judgment that Hon. Omoaje and other members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party elected at the 2023 elective convention of the party held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, be recognized forthwith as the national chairman and executives of the party respectively.
This is even as the court ordered INEC to upload the names of the party’s officials on the commission’s portal as earlier ordered in its ruling delivered on March 11, 2025, stressing that any action of the commission contrary to that will attract sanctions.
At the resumed hearing of the case between Action Alliance and INEC before Justice Funmilola Dem-Ajayi on Wednesday, the court reaffirmed its earlier order, ruling that the March 11 judgment of the court subsists and will not deliver any other ruling until the earlier judgement is duly obeyed.
Both Hon. Omoaje and the Action Alliance had filed contempt suit before the court over the failure of INEC and Prof Yakubu to obey the court order which reinstated Hon. Omoaje as the national chairman of the party.
The trial judge, Justice Funmilola Dem-Ajayi was taken aback by the disobedience of INEC on the court order as the commission failed to upload the name of Hon. Omoaje on its portal four months after judgment was delivered.
However, counsel to INEC, Mr Hammed Mohammed, told the court that he had an application to file before the court and the court directed that the application be filed before the next adjourned date fixed for 14th July, 2025.
Mr Mohammed said INEC had obeyed the court order partially by recognizing the state chairmen elected at the 2023 elective convention of the party held in Abeokuta under the Adekunle Rufai Omoaje led leadership.
However, the court insisted that its order should be obeyed fully and not partially.
It would be recalled that the court had in March this year held that the convention organized by Udeze was a nullity and declared that the only recognized convention of the party was the one held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta in Ogun State in 2023, which produced Hon Omoaje as the national chairman of the party.
Besides, the court affirmed that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Action Alliance, as constituted on the 7th of October, 2023 led by Hon. Omoaje, remained the authentic and lawful leadership of the party, stressing that any claim to the contrary was baseless.
Accordingg to the statement, the Board and National Executive Committee of PANDEF, noted with very grave concern the recent spate of political developments in Rivers State.
“Regrettably, these developments have now degenerated into the decision of the Rivers State House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor and deputy governor.
“This is a deeply disturbing situation that demands urgent attention in order to forestall further escalation and breakdown of law and order.
“This concern is heightened by the critical importance and strategic centrality of Rivers to the Niger Delta region and to the broader socio-political stability and economic wellbeing of Nigeria as a whole”, the statement said.
The Forum called on all parties involved in the resurgent political imbroglio to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.
“This should be guided by the principles of give-and-take, dialogue, tolerance, and political equanimity.
“All stakeholders must place paramount importance on peace, development and the welfare of the people of Rivers.
“We must now focus squarely on good governance and development of the state,” the Forum said.
PANDEF commended President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), respected elders of Rivers State, and other well-meaning Nigerians for their previous and ongoing efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the state.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, January 10, Chief Sara-Igbe alleged that the minister had flouted regulations governing the commencement of electioneering campaigns by moving from one local government area to another to galvanise political support.
According to him, the action amounted to a clear breach of electoral guidelines being carried out with a troubling sense of impunity that could undermine the rule of law.
“Wike has violated the electoral laws of campaigning by going from local government to local government to talk to the people. He travelled from one local government to another. As a result of his visits to local government areas, he has broken election regulations and continues to do all these things without fear of repercussions”, Chief Sara-Igbe said.
The remarks came as Chief Wike was set to round off a state-wide “thank-you” tour that covered all 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
Although the minister had described the tour as an appreciation visit following support for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general elections, critics say the engagements have assumed an overtly political character.
Observers note that during several stops, including recent visits to Andoni and Bonny local government areas, the minister rallied supporters across party lines under what he termed a “Rainbow Coalition,” a move widely interpreted as part of a broader political strategy.
During these engagements, Chief Wike was also reported to have made remarks perceived as a veiled challenge to the authority of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, while repeatedly referencing the 2027 elections and urging supporters to prepare to “correct the mistake” of 2023.
Chief Sara-Igbe warned that allowing such activities to continue unchecked could erode public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process and called on relevant authorities to enforce existing laws without fear or favour.
The Commission, in a statement on Wednesday, claimed that there were plans by the same group to escalate a smear campaign against its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, to frustrate ongoing investigations and prosecutions involving prominent individuals.
The statement endorsed by the agency’s spokesman, Mr Dele Oyewale, claimed that the action was intended to distract the Commission through unfounded allegations of political bias in the discharge of its duties.
The EFCC warned that it would not stand by and watch “those recruited into this ignoble enterprise” or allow any attempt to derail it from “the patriotic task of improving public accountability in Nigeria.”
The Commission made it clear that those recruited into this venture were under close watch, adding that it would not tolerate any attempt to distract it from the patriotic task of improving public accountability in Nigeria.
“The EFCC reiterates its non-political stance in all its activities. Facts on the ground clearly show that any political actor belonging to the ruling party or opposition party, with corruption baggage, has no hiding place from the operational radar and dynamics of the Commission.
“As a matter of fact, several strong members of the ruling and opposition parties are either facing trial before the courts or being investigated by the Commission.
“It is needful that Nigerians appreciate the fact that the Commission is keeping faith with its Establishment Act in all its operations.
“Therefore, the Commission reiterates its commitment to justice, without fear or favour, in the fulfilment of its mandate,” the statement pointed out.
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