Court orders arrest of ex-INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu

The Federal High Court in Osogbo has ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for contempt of court.

This shocking directive came barely hours after Yakubu stepped down from his INEC position.

Court’s Contempt Order Shocks Nation

The court’s dramatic order follows a suit instituted by the Action Alliance (AA) against INEC and Yakubu over their failure to comply with a previous judgment.

Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi had ruled in favor of AA, mandating INEC to upload the names of AA’s National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, and other National Executive Committee (NEC) members on its official portal.

Despite INEC’s claims of compliance, Omoaje’s name remains conspicuously absent from the INEC website.

This omission triggered the contempt order, raising serious questions about INEC’s respect for judicial authority.

The court registrar, Mr. O.M. Kilani, signed the order demanding that the IGP effect the arrest and commence committal proceedings within seven days.

Action Alliance’s Legal Victory Undermined?

The crux of the lawsuit rests on the court validating the AA’s October 7, 2023, elective convention, which had officially installed Omoaje as national chairman and his team as NEC members.

INEC officials had monitored and supervised the event, confirming its authenticity and adherence to electoral law.

Yet, in a bizarre twist, while the names of state chairmen and other NEC officials related to Omoaje appear on the INEC portal, the omission of the national chairman’s name smacks of deliberate defiance or bureaucratic inefficiency.

AA has accused INEC and its former chairman of willful contempt and insubordination to the court’s ruling.

What Does This Say About INEC’s Integrity?

This development paints a troubling picture of INEC’s attitude toward the rule of law.

The commission’s partial compliance challenges judicial authority and may politically undermine the Action Alliance’s legitimacy.

Prof. Yakubu, expected to uphold INEC’s impartiality, now faces legal trouble, deepening public mistrust significantly.

The court’s order puts Nigeria’s IGP at the center of this politically sensitive arrest saga.

How the police respond will either affirm the supremacy of the judiciary or expose weaknesses in law enforcement independence.

The Broader Political Context

The court ruling feeds into a larger narrative of partisan interference in Nigeria’s electoral processes.

With general elections looming, this controversy signals potential manipulations by powerful stakeholders within INEC and beyond.

The controversy underscores the urgent need for electoral reforms and stricter adherence to court orders.

Official Reaction and Next Steps

As of the time of reporting, no statement has come from the police or INEC regarding the arrest order.

The AA has vowed to pursue full compliance and justice, warning against selective adherence to court rulings.

The public demands accountability from INEC and its outgoing leadership for this embarrassing episode.