The Action Alliance (AA) has once again urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain the results of their last elective national convention, which was supervised by INEC officials and other stakeholders. This convention led to Dr. Adekunle Rufai Omoaje becoming the party’s national chairman.
The party is concerned about why INEC has not uploaded Dr. Omoaje’s name as the national chairman on their official portal, even though they recognized the elective national convention held in Abeokuta, Ogun State. This convention also selected other members of the National Working Committee.
In a letter dated April 15, 2024, signed by its secretary, Mrs. Rose Oriaran Anthony, INEC acknowledged the elective national convention that resulted in Omoaje’s leadership. The letter, addressed to the national chairman of AA and seen by our correspondent, confirmed that INEC recognized the convention held on October 7, 2023, in Abeokuta, where Omoaje was elected.
However, despite this recognition, INEC has not updated their portal to reflect Omoaje as the national chairman at the time of this report.
In a statement released in Akure, Ondo State, on Thursday, the party’s National Vice Chairman (South West), Hon Joshua Adewole, criticized INEC for undermining democracy and disrespecting the rule of law. Adewole specifically accused INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, of abusing his office and showing bias against the Action Alliance by favoring an expelled member, Mr. Kenneth Udeze, whose name still appears as the national chairman on the INEC portal.
Adewole pointed out that various courts, including the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, and the Supreme Court, have upheld Udeze’s expulsion from the party. Despite these rulings, INEC continues to recognize Udeze as the national chairman, which worries the party.
He also recalled that INEC once wrote a letter to Udeze instructing him to cooperate with the National Executive members elected at the Abeokuta convention. Adewole believes that Prof. Yakubu is acting incorrectly by engaging with non-members of the Action Alliance as if they are the national executives of the party.
Efforts to get a response from INEC were unsuccessful, as the commission’s Director of Voters Education and Public Enlightenment did not answer calls or respond to messages sent to his mobile phone.
