‘You’re overstepping’— ADC lambasts INEC chairman, insists on proceeding with party gatherings

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has launched a scathing attack on Professor Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing him of overstepping his authority and misinterpreting a court order, as the party insists on proceeding with its planned congresses and national convention.

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A Court of Appeal directive to maintain the status quo has sparked a heated dispute, with INEC and the ADC presenting vastly different interpretations of the order, which is now at the centre of the controversy.

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While INEC claims that the directive requires the party to halt its activities, the ADC argues that this interpretation is not only incorrect but also a potentially damaging move that could stifle the ability of opposition parties to function.

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The party's National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, made the ADC's position clear in a statement responding to comments made by the INEC chairman during a Friday morning interview on ARISE NEWS.

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According to the ADC, INEC's stance represents a 'wilful distortion' of the court's directive and an attempt to impede lawful internal activities within the party, with the party stressing that the preservation order is intended to prevent actions that would irreversibly alter the subject matter of litigation, not paralyse the internal functioning of a political party.

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The ADC emphasized that the determination of what actions are permissible lies strictly within the jurisdiction of the courts, not the Commission, highlighting the importance of respecting the boundaries of each institution.

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The party dismissed concerns that proceeding with its congresses could affect ongoing court proceedings, maintaining that its internal processes are lawful and do not interfere with any case before the courts, citing the principle that democratic continuity within a political party is presumed under the law unless expressly restrained by a competent court.

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The ADC noted that no such order has been issued, and therefore, it is free to proceed with its internal processes, adding that a party's decision to proceed with its internal processes does not depend on INEC's participation.

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The party rejected the suggestion that INEC's involvement determines whether its congresses are valid, emphasizing that the Commission's role is limited and should not be overstated.

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Regarding conflicting communications from factions within the party, the ADC said such disagreements are common in politics and cannot justify halting party activities, emphasizing that INEC's role is not to arbitrate these disputes or to freeze party activities pending their resolution.

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Instead, the Commission should maintain neutrality and allow due process to run its course, as pre-emptively warning of hypothetical judicial consequences amounts to speculation and cannot serve as a legal basis to restrict lawful party activities.

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While INEC has framed its position as a precaution against future legal complications, the ADC argued that such caution does not justify limiting constitutional rights, stressing that the law does not permit administrative bodies to curtail constitutional rights on the basis of speculative future outcomes.

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The party reaffirmed its stance, stating that its right to organise congresses and hold its national convention remains intact, and therefore, the ADC will proceed with its activities in full compliance with the law.

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The party urged INEC to confine itself to its constitutional mandate, emphasizing the importance of respecting the boundaries of each institution and allowing the party to exercise its constitutional rights without undue interference.