A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has reinstated Hon. Adekunle Rufai Omoaje as the National Chairman of the Action Alliance (AA) and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize him as the party’s legitimate leader.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Funmilola Dem-Ajayi, declared INEC’s removal of Omoaje and his loyal state chairmen as unlawful. The court ordered the electoral body to restore their names on its website without delay.
The judgment came in a suit filed by Omoaje-led AA against INEC. Justice Ajayi condemned INEC’s action, stating that it violated the electoral act and the officials’ right to fair hearing. She affirmed that Omoaje and his state chairmen were duly elected at the party’s elective convention in Abeokuta, Ogun State, which was supervised by INEC.
The court also upheld the expulsion of Mr. Kenneth Udeze from the AA, noting that both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court had confirmed his suspension. Justice Ajayi stressed that Udeze, no longer a party member, could not hold any position within the AA and described his inclusion on INEC’s website as an aberration.
Additionally, the court awarded N100,000 in costs against INEC for its unlawful actions.
Reacting to the verdict, AA’s counsels, Mr. O.K. Etiibo and K.A. Salawu, praised the judiciary for upholding justice and urged INEC to comply with the ruling.
In his response, Omoaje described the judgment as a victory for democracy and truth. He called on INEC to promptly update its records by replacing Udeze’s name with his on all platforms.
