INEC chairman warns ADC: Like in Zamfara, your victory will be annulled in 2027 if you hold April 14 convention
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has warned the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by former Senate President David Mark, against proceeding with its planned national convention on April 14.
In an interview on Arise News, Amupitan said that if the ADC goes ahead with the convention, which it has vowed to hold, its fate would mirror the 2019 Zamfara governorship election. In that case, the winner of the election was removed by the court, and the candidate with the second-highest votes was declared winner.
INEC had on Wednesday withdrawn recognition of the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC following a court order. However, Mark, at a press conference, insisted that no such order exists and declared that the party would proceed with the April 14 convention with or without INEC’s endorsement.
When asked about the implications of proceeding with the convention, Amupitan cautioned the ADC against it.
He said: “If they decide to go ahead, let me tell you what happened in Zamfara: it happened in the past. At the end of the day, after you have won, the court will declare the election invalid and the implication is that the person with the second-highest number of votes will be declared the winner. It happened in Plateau state.”
He added: “Failure to obey the court order has consequences. They are at liberty to do whatever they want to do, but INEC doesn’t want to face a situation again where there is an order not to do anything or take any steps. I have the judgment here, and I can read it to you. It is very definite.”
