It is not INEC’s business to interpret Court of Appeal decision — Prof Odinkalu

*Alleges Presidency’s threat to activate Amupitan’s pre-signed resignation letter

“This release by @inecnigeria followed a meeting involving senior leaders of the Commission, & @NGRPresident, @CourtOfAppealNG, @FederalHigh in the last 60 hours.”

A professor of Law, Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, has faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] on its decision to interpret the ruling of the Court of Appeal in the case [appeal] between Senator David Mark v Hon Nafiu Bala Gombe & Ors.

Odinkalu, in an X post –  https://x.com/i/status/2039466036471452080 – pointed the finger at the INEC leadership, President Bola Tinubu, Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court, alleging a meeting that culminated in the Commission’s statement containing its interpretation of the Court of Appeal ruling.

He wrote: “This release by @inecnigeria followed a meeting involving senior leaders of the Commission, & @NGRPresident, @CourtOfAppealNG, @FederalHigh in the last 60 hours.

“I have it on the most impeccable authority that there is a pre-signed resignation letter by Chairman [Professor Joash] Amupitan [INEC chairman]. It was a pre-condition for his appointment. Ultimately, that had to be called in aid by those who persuaded him to issue this release. The threat of releasing it did the magic.

It shd [should] be evident to a professor of law & #SAN that [it] is not the business of @inecnigeria to interpret the decision of the Court of Appeal. If they had any doubt, an #INEC governed by good faith shd [should] have gone back to the Court of Appeal to secure an interpretation of the decision.

“But that is not where we are now. The country stares down a barrel & only those willing to enable that, make peace with it, or dare it will be able to sniff the stakes in #NigeriaDecides2027.

“As for Joash Amupitan….!”

The African Democratic Congress [ADC] had also kicked against INEC’s interpretation.

The ADC rejected INEC’s interpretation of the Court of Appeal ruling, alleging that the electoral body acted under pressure from a government that was scared stiff by the opposition’s momentum.

The ADC, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said APC-led federal government was still panicky despite its efforts to destroy all opposition parties and foist a one-party rule on Nigeria.

The party described INEC’s position as contradictory and inconsistent with facts, insisting that it would publicly clarify these issues while warning that the commission has effectively sided with the government against Nigerians.

ADC said it was currently reviewing its options and would announce its next steps soon, urging its members and the public to remain steadfast as events unfolded.

The statement by Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of ADC, is produced in extenso hereunder:

“We reject INEC’s interpretation of the Court of Appeal ruling. We knew that INEC was being pressured by a government that has become jittery from the ADC’s rising momentum even in the face of its relentless assault on all opposition parties.

“INEC’s press statement is full of contradictions that fly in the face of both facts and reason. We shall clarify these contradictions for all to see. What is clear, however, is that INEC has caved to pressure and has chosen to side with the government against the Nigerian people.

“We are currently reviewing our options, and we shall make these known soon.

“Meanwhile, we call on our members and all Nigerians to remain steadfast as they await further directives.
Nigeria is rising. ADC is rising.”

Recall that INEC had on Wednesday issued a statement announcing the removal of the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its official portal as National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC respectively.

The commission also had said it would also not recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is seeking to be declared national chairman through the courts.

INEC announced on Wednesday that it would suspend recognition of all factions within the party and refrain from monitoring any conventions or congresses organised by groups aligned with the affected leaders.

The decision, it said, would remain in place pending the final determination of a substantive suit before the Federal High Court.

The development followed a leadership crisis within the ADC and a recent judgement of the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/ABJ/145/2026, which had further complicated the dispute.