A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Joemartins Uzodike, has lambasted the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan, alleging that he has already failed Nigerians, even before the conduct of any election.
Uzodike asked Amupitan to resign.
He spoke in reaction to INEC’s withdrawal of recognition of the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the ADC.
Uzodike, a lawyer, described Amupitan’s pronouncements on the matter as disgraceful and mischievous.
He added that the interpretation of a court order by INEC under Amupitan’s leadership, despite his status as a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, showed bias.
The ADC stalwart accused the electoral umpire of relying on an order submitted by an individual, thereby displaying what he described as deliberate ignorance of the law, particularly the meaning and application of status quo ante bellum.
According to him, the action of the INEC chairman had brought serious embarrassment to the legal system, accusing him of using a court order to create a leadership vacuum in an opposition political party.
He also faulted what he described as the recognition of an individual as a faction, arguing that Nafiu Bala neither has a secretary nor leads any known executive committee.
“You’ve failed Nigerians even before the election. I have been around in this country since independence and have actively participated in many elections. I make bold to say that an electoral umpire has never descended so brazenly and carelessly into the arena as we are witnessing now.
“The chairman is a Professor of Law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. How can he not interpret the meaning of status quo ante bellum, which means to return to the position before the matter went to court?
“At what point was the ADC before Nafiu Bala went to court, and who was the chairman at that time?
“The court simply said whoever was in office should remain pending the determination of the matter, but Amupitan’s INEC is saying the ADC does not exist,” he said
2027: Resign, you’ve failed Nigerians – ADC chieftain blasts INEC chair
