The Federal High Court has summoned the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to appear before it on March 10, 2026, over allegations that the electoral body disobeyed a previous court directive.
The order was issued on Wednesday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu after the INEC Chairman failed to appear in court during proceedings related to the leadership dispute within the National Rescue Mission (NRM).
According to reports, the case centres on claims that INEC did not comply with an earlier judgment instructing the commission to recognise the faction of the NRM led by Chief Edozie Njoku as the party’s authentic leadership.
The Hearing
During the hearing, counsel representing INEC, M.S. Bawa, sought an adjournment of the matter, explaining that the commission’s chairman could not attend due to an emergency situation. However, the court proceeded to take further action in the case.
Lawyer to the NRM faction, Oladimeji Ekengba, told the court that contempt proceedings are quasi-criminal and therefore require the accused person to appear physically in court to answer the allegations.
After considering the submission, Justice Egwuatu directed that a fresh hearing notice be served on Prof. Amupitan, compelling him to personally appear before the court at the next sitting.
The judge also ordered the INEC Chairman to explain why he should not be sanctioned or possibly committed to prison for allegedly failing to obey the court’s directive.
The dispute originated from a mandamus order issued on March 5, 2025, which required INEC to acknowledge the outcome of the NRM’s national convention held in January 2025.
New Leader Emerges
At that convention, Chief Edozie Njoku emerged as the leader of the party’s national executive.
The court ruling instructed the electoral commission to recognise that convention and its outcome as valid.
Because earlier attempts to personally serve the INEC Chairman with court documents were unsuccessful, the court had previously authorised substituted service of Form 48 — a formal notice that warns of the legal consequences of disregarding a court order.
Under the arrangement approved by the court, the notice could be served through any official at INEC’s national headquarters in Abuja.
Also Read: Cleric Suspended After Blasting Tinubu, Northern Leaders Over Insecurity
Meanwhile, officials loyal to the NRM leadership led by Njoku have expressed optimism that the electoral commission will ultimately comply with the court’s directive and formally acknowledge their executive committee.