The leadership of the Action Alliance (AA), led by its National Chairman, Chief Kenneth Udeze, has rejected the presidential and vice-presidential candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the party, describing the action as unlawful and a violation of existing court judgments.
INEC had, on August 1, published Adekunle Rufai Omoaje as the Action Alliance’s presidential candidate and Shehu Hussaini as the vice-presidential candidate alongside the candidates of 18 other political parties.
However, in a statement issued on Sunday, Udeze said the commission ignored the candidates duly nominated by the party’s recognised leadership.
He argued that INEC’s action amounted to a deliberate disregard for subsisting judgments of the Court of Appeal, which, according to him, affirmed the legitimacy of the Udeze-led National Executive Committee.
According to him, despite being fully aware of the appellate court’s decisions recognising his leadership, INEC proceeded to publish the names of candidates nominated by another faction of the party.
“To publish a list that ignores candidates nominated by our leadership amounts to willful disobedience and contempt of a court of competent jurisdiction,” Udeze said.
He further accused the electoral umpire of violating the Electoral Act 2022.
“Section 29 of the Electoral Act mandates INEC to publish the names of candidates nominated by political parties.
“The candidates of the Action Alliance under Chief Kenneth Udeze’s leadership were duly nominated during the party’s primaries within the stipulated timeframe and in full compliance with the law,” he stated.
Describing the development as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy, Udeze said INEC had set a dangerous precedent by allegedly disregarding valid court judgments.
“This is the level to which INEC has now reduced the Action Alliance and, indeed, Nigeria’s democracy—to ignore court judgments and act with impunity. This cannot stand,” he said.
The party demanded that INEC withdraw what it described as the “illegal publication” and replace it with the names of candidates nominated by the Udeze-led leadership within 48 hours.
Udeze warned that failure to comply would leave the party with no option but to pursue all available legal remedies, including contempt proceedings.
“We hereby demand that INEC immediately withdraw the illegal publication and publish the correct list reflecting the candidates nominated by the Action Alliance under Chief Barr. Kenneth Udeze within 48 hours.
“Failure to do so will leave us with no option but to activate all available legal remedies, including contempt proceedings, to protect the rights of our party, our candidates and the millions of Nigerians who believe in the Action Alliance ideology,” he said.