The presidential candidate of a faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, has threatened legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, over the recognition of candidates that emerged from his faction’s recently conducted convention.
Kachikwu made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television, where he accused INEC of failing to properly comply with court directives relating to the internal affairs and leadership structure of the ADC.
According to him, his faction remains the legitimate structure within the party and would not hesitate to approach the courts if the electoral commission refuses to upload the names of candidates produced during their convention onto the official INEC portal.
Speaking during the interview, Kachikwu said, “INEC felt they had made a mistake with the process in removing David Mark, so when there was a court order saying they don’t have to do that, they then put them back.”
He continued, “But there is a court order that makes clear that the state chairmen should conduct congresses. And now the real state chairmen who are on our side have conducted a convention.”
The ADC chieftain further warned that failure by INEC to recognise the outcome of the convention would result in contempt proceedings against the commission’s leadership.
According to him, “If INEC does not then upload those who emerged from our convention on their portal, then we will go to court and get the INEC chairman charged for contempt of court. It’s very simple.”
Kachikwu argued that the position of his faction is consistent with existing judicial pronouncements and the operational structure of political parties in Nigeria. He maintained that state chapters are constitutionally recognised organs of political parties and possess legitimate authority to conduct congresses and primaries within their jurisdictions.
He also pointed to the conduct of primaries and congresses by other political parties across the country, insisting that in most cases, such exercises are carried out through state structures rather than direct national intervention.
According to him, attempts to disregard the role of state chapters in favour of a competing national faction would amount to a violation of party regulations and existing court orders.
Kachikwu stressed that state party structures are not ceremonial institutions but legally recognised entities with defined constitutional responsibilities under party guidelines….See More
