Amupitan Cautions ADC Against Holding Congresses, Convention

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has cautioned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to halt its plans to proceed with the conduct of its congresses and convention.

The INEC Chairman warned that the electoral commission would not monitor such congresses and conventions based on the prevailing court order.

Speaking on Friday during an interview with Arise News, Amupitan submitted that any action taken by the ADC before the court delivers a ruling on the leadership crisis affecting the party amounts to an illegality.

He warned that if the ADC conducts primary elections, and its candidates win elections, the court can declare such elections invalid, and the implication is that the person with the second-highest number of votes will be declared the winner, just as it previously happened in Zamfara and Plateau states.

The INEC Chairman gave the warning against the backdrop of the insistence by the David Mark-led faction of the ADC to proceed with its planned congresses and convention ahead of the 2027 elections, even if the electoral umpire does not monitor such activities.

However, Amupitan warned that such actions come with consequences and urged the ADC to maintain the status quo pending a court ruling.

He said, “If they decide to go ahead, let me tell you what happened in Zamfara: it happened in the past. At the end of the day, after you have won, the court will declare the election invalid, and the implication is that the person with the second-highest number of votes will be declared the winner. It’s happened in Plateau state.

“Failure to obey the court order has consequences. They are at liberty to do whatever they want to do, but INEC doesn’t want to face a situation again where there is an order not to do anything or take any steps. I have the judgment here, and I can read it to you, is very definite.

“So if I proceed, for instance, to monitor their convention, it means I am taking steps that are going to affect the subject matter that is pending before the court.”