If ADC Goes Ahead With Convention, Even If They Win 2027 Elections, Court Will Invalidate Their Victory And Declare First Runner-Up As Winner — INEC Chairman, Amupitan (VIDEO)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Joash Amupitan, has warned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that holding their planned convention could cost them the 2027 elections.
Amupitan stated that even if ADC wins the polls, a court could invalidate their victory and declare the first runner-up as the winner if the party proceeds with the convention in violation of electoral rules.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Friday, INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), distanced the electoral body from the internal crisis rocking the ADC, stressing that the commission is already a party in the ongoing litigation.
Responding to a question on the implications of ADC’s insistence on going ahead with its congress and convention, Amupitan said, “As far as we are concerned, INEC is a party in the case and INEC was sued as a defendant by a member of the ADC.
“Secondly, the court is very clear that parties, including David Mark himself, should refrain from doing anything that will fuel the situation of inter-complaints in the court.”
He warned that any decision by the party to proceed with its planned activities must be weighed against the existing court directives.
He said, “If they are going ahead with their congress, with their convention, it is left for them to look at it, whether it is in contravention of the Court of Appeal.
“INEC did not just take a decision. We didn’t just wake up one day and take the decision. There was something that led to it.
“There was an order of court not to do anything or take any step that would render any proceeding in court negatory, and also put the trial court in a situation of helplessness of inter-complainants.”
The INEC boss further revealed that the issue of congresses and conventions is already part of reliefs being sought before the court, warning that premature action could undermine the judicial process.
“So, if already they asked not to do any congress and convention, it is a relief that is being claimed, essentially the file in motion for that purpose which has not been determined,” he said.
Drawing from past electoral disputes, Amupitan cited the cases of Zamfara and Plateau states, where parties suffered legal setbacks after failing to comply with court orders.
“If they decide to go ahead with their congress and convention, let me tell you what happened in Zamfara,” he said.
“It has happened in the past, and we don’t want to conduct an election without this early warning, and at the end of the day, after you have won, the court will again declare your election invalid.
“The implication is that the person with the second highest number of votes will be declared a winner. It happened in Plateau State during the last election where the question of primaries was an issue.
“Congresses were not held in some parts of Plateau state. The court said, go and do those primaries.
“Unfortunately, they did not obey the court order. Failure to obey the court order has consequences.”
