By Amos Tauna, Kaduna
Yusuf Solomon Danbaki, chairman of the Kaduna State Interim Coordinating Council of the Obidient movement, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to promptly implement the Supreme Court’s ruling concerning the Labour Party’s leadership dispute.
In his statement, Danbaki emphasized, “INEC’s sole obligation regarding court judgments is to comply, not interpret. Yet, in the case of the Labour Party’s leadership turmoil, INEC appears to be acting as an appeals court, ‘studying’ a Supreme Court decision that is clear-cut. How long should it take to enforce a ruling that simply nullifies a previous decision?”
He pointed out the apparent inconsistency in INEC’s actions, noting that when the High Court recognized Julius Abure as the Labour Party chairman, INEC complied without delay or hesitation.
“Now, following the Supreme Court’s annulment of that High Court ruling, INEC seems to be dragging its feet, feigning a need to analyze what is evidently a straightforward judgment,” he observed.
Danbaki raised concerns about the motives behind INEC’s delay, questioning whether the commission is awaiting political directives or searching for loopholes to avoid enforcing a ruling that contradicts their political preferences. “Why the swift compliance with the High Court ruling but hesitation with the Supreme Court’s decision?” he asked.
He reiterated that the Supreme Court’s ruling is final and leaves no room for INEC’s review, stressing that the Supreme Court did not request INEC to conduct any judicial review as its ruling was clear, effectively nullifying the previous High Court judgment.
Believing that leadership disputes should be resolved internally within the party, Danbaki questioned, “What exactly is INEC examining? Are their lawyers still learning the ropes? A ruling that nullifies an earlier decision demands immediate compliance, not bureaucratic delays.”
“INEC cannot selectively choose which court orders to follow,” he added.
Danbaki recalled that INEC initially barred Abure from participating in political party meetings and election-related activities, claiming his tenure had expired, while recognizing Senator Nenadi Usman when she joined the case at the High Court.
“If she lacked standing, INEC wouldn’t have engaged with her, and the Supreme Court would have dismissed her appeal, but that did not happen,” he stated.
He noted that they were part of a consent judgment that mandated an inclusive Labour Party convention, which Abure has yet to convene. Now, he argued, INEC is acting as if the Supreme Court’s ruling is ambiguous, but he insists that the public is aware of the underlying strategies at play.
