A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the arrest and imprisonment of the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, for disobeying a court judgment.
The order, issued by Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi on Monday, September 29, 2025, came before Professor Yakubu officially stepped down from office. The court held that Yakubu and INEC failed to comply with a ruling that directed them to restore the names of the Rufai Omoaje-led National Executive of the Action Alliance (AA) to the Commission’s website.
The Action Alliance had filed suit number FHC/OS/194/2024 seeking an order compelling INEC and its then-chairman to relist the party’s national officers who were allegedly removed unlawfully from INEC’s portal.
In its ruling, the court granted an order of committal against both INEC and Professor Yakubu, citing contempt of court. It further directed the Inspector General of Police to arrest and initiate committal proceedings against the defendants within seven days of the ruling.
The certified order also imposed a cost of ₦100,000 against INEC and Yakubu in favour of the plaintiffs for what the court described as “acts of contempt resulting in financial and private injuries.”
The plaintiffs in the suit include the Action Alliance, Professor Julius Adebowale, Engineer Olowookere Alabi, Barrister Chinwuba Zulyke, Oladele Sunday, Simon Itokwe, and Araoye Oyewole, acting on behalf of 30 state chairmen of the party.
The court reaffirmed that INEC must comply with previous judgments recognizing the Omoaje-led National Executive Committee as the legitimate leadership of the party.
Professor Yakubu officially handed over to Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu on Tuesday, ending his tenure as INEC Chairman.
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