Court Orders INEC Chairman to Appear Over Contempt Case

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday directed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to appear before it on March 10 over a contempt allegation filed by the National Rescue Mission.

The order was made by Justice Obiora Egwuatu during proceedings in the case. The matter arose from claims by the NRM that INEC and its chairman failed to obey a previous court judgment.

The party had approached the court, accusing the commission of refusing to recognise the outcome of its emergency convention held on January 17, 2025, which produced a leadership team led by Chief Edozie Njoku.

According to the party, the court had earlier issued a mandamus order on March 5, 2025, directing INEC to accept the convention’s outcome.

During Wednesday’s hearing, counsel to INEC, M.S. Bawa, asked the court for more time, explaining that the chairman could not attend due to an emergency.

He also informed the court that a counter-affidavit had been filed to challenge the validity of the contempt proceedings and requested that the charge be dismissed.

However, counsel to the NRM, Oladimeji Ekengba, argued that in contempt cases, the person accused must be present in court while the proceedings continue. He maintained that the chairman’s absence was not proper under such circumstances.

Before adjourning the matter, Justice Egwuatu ordered that a fresh hearing notice be served on the INEC chairman. The court had earlier allowed substituted service of the contempt documents.

Specifically, it directed that Form 48, which warns of the consequences of disobeying a court order, be delivered to any staff member at INEC’s national headquarters.

The NRM, in an affidavit supporting its application, stated that INEC was aware of both the emergency convention and the court’s judgment, noting that the commission’s lawyer was present when the ruling was delivered.

The party claimed that despite being served with the enrolled order of the judgment, the commission had not complied.

Members of the NRM leadership, led by Chief Edozie Njoku, attended the court session. After the proceedings, Njoku told journalists that he believes the INEC chairman will eventually obey the court’s decision and recognise the party’s leadership as directed.

The case was adjourned until March 10 for the chairman’s appearance and further action on the contempt allegation.