Ondo AG backs INEC chair, warns against undermining rule of law
By Boye Oyeyemi
Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo (SAN), has defended the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), amid the leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress.
In his remarks, Ajulo faulted calls by a faction within the party for the removal of the INEC boss, describing such demands as reckless and a threat to democratic order.
He warned that sustained attacks on the electoral body over its refusal to recognise a disputed leadership could destabilise Nigeria’s constitutional framework.
The controversy stems from INEC’s decision to recognise only party leadership backed by valid court rulings, a position Ajulo said aligns strictly with the law.
In his argument, he cited a March 12, 2026 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which dismissed an appeal filed by a faction led by David Mark and directed parties to maintain the status quo, adding that the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022 compel INEC to act in line with subsisting judicial decisions.
“The courts have spoken, and their decisions remain binding until set aside through due process. They are not mere opinions to be ignored when inconvenient,” he said.
The commissioner went further to accuse the aggrieved faction of attempting to sidestep both party rules and legal procedures, while attacking institutions enforcing compliance with the law.
Ajulo equally urged the INEC chairman to remain resolute, stressing that adherence to the rule of law is vital to preserving Nigeria’s democracy and the integrity of its electoral system.
