Members of Accord Party staged a protest at INEC headquarters in Abuja, demanding recognition of Prof. Christopher Imumolen as National Chairman in line with alleged court orders.
Some members of the Accord Party on Tuesday staged a protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, demanding the immediate recognition of Prof. Christopher Imumolen as the party’s National Chairman.
The protesters arrived at the commission’s office carrying placards and submitting a formal petition, urging INEC to comply with what they described as subsisting court orders affirming Imumolen’s leadership.
Speaking during the protest, Imumolen, a former presidential candidate of the party, criticised what he called the commission’s delay in enforcing judicial rulings.
He said INEC, as a regulatory institution, must remain neutral and uphold the rule of law in all internal party disputes.
According to him, the protesters came peacefully to draw attention to what they believe is continued disregard for court directives.
Imumolen questioned why INEC had allegedly complied with court decisions involving other political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while failing to do the same for Accord.
He claimed that despite several petitions, letters, and court documents submitted to the commission, the INEC website still reflected Maxwell Mgbudem as chairman.
Imumolen also alleged that the Mgbudem-led faction had removed state chairmen who supported what he described as the court-recognised leadership structure.
He insisted that INEC has a constitutional duty to obey valid court orders and immediately update its records accordingly.
Among the demands listed in the petition were the immediate recognition of Imumolen as National Chairman, withdrawal of recognition for the opposing faction, and acknowledgment of elected state chairmen whose tenures remain valid.
The states mentioned include Zamfara, Borno, Ogun, Katsina, Yobe, Bauchi, Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos, Osun, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory, Edo, Delta, Benue, Oyo, Plateau, and Kwara.
Imumolen warned that failure to comply with court orders could place the commission in conflict with constitutional principles and judicial authority.
Responding to the protesters, INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, confirmed receipt of the petition and assured them that the matter would be forwarded to the commission for consideration.
He said the commission would review the submission and take appropriate action where necessary.
The protest highlights continuing leadership tensions within the Accord Party ahead of future political activities.
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