David Mark-Led ADC Leadership Still Valid, INEC Got It Wrong — Former Director
A former director of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Barrister Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, has challenged the commission’s decision to withdraw recognition from the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He insisted that the move was based on a wrong interpretation of a court ruling and should not stop the party’s internal activities.
Osaze-Uzzi made this known during an interview on ARISE News on Friday, Politics Nigeria reports.
He said although he holds the leadership of INEC in high regard, he disagrees with how the commission handled the Appeal Court order surrounding the ADC leadership crisis.
According to him, the ruling did not remove legitimacy from any faction in the party. He explained that the court only aimed to maintain the current situation until the case is fully decided by the High Court.
“Because the court did not say that INEC will withdraw recognition from either faction. All it did say is that both INEC and the contesting factions will be careful not to do anything that will usurp the power of the court and its ability to do justice on the matter,” he stated.
He advised the party to continue with its planned congresses and conventions, as long as such actions do not interfere with the court process.
“I think the ADC should proceed with all that they are doing, as long as they do not impugn the majesty of the court and its ability to do justice on the case,” Osaze-Uzzi said.
The former INEC official stressed that the court did not instruct the commission to recognise or de-recognise any faction. Rather, it urged all parties involved to avoid steps that could weaken the authority of the judiciary or disrupt ongoing legal proceedings.
He also expressed surprise at INEC’s position, considering the calibre of legal minds within the commission.
“The chairman of the commission is a respected academic, a lawyer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, so he has reached the highest recognition in the academia and in the legal profession as a senior advocate,” Osaze-Uzzi said.
He added, “There is also a vibrant legal department in the commission that can boast of three to four senior advocates. I want to believe they carefully studied that judgement, but in its interpretation and interpolation of that order, I have a reservation about that.”
Osaze-Uzzi further dismissed claims that any party congress or convention conducted without INEC officials would be invalid. He said the law does not make the commission’s physical presence a requirement for such exercises to stand.
“Whether INEC attends the convention or not does not invalidate the congress and the outcome,” he said.
He explained that what is required under the Electoral Act is proper notification to INEC before any party event takes place.
“What the Electoral Act says is that you will notify INEC at least 21 days to your convention. If you do that, INEC has the power to attend by itself and validate what goes on there,” he added.
