The National Chairman of the Action Alliance (AA), Kenneth Udeze, has lodged a petition with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, regarding an alleged scheme by certain high-ranking INEC personnel to disrupt the party’s leadership.
In the petition dated March 25th, Udeze specifically demanded the retirement of certain INEC staff in Abuja, whom he accused of colluding with external elements to foment fresh leadership upheaval within the party.
This development, Udeze said, comes in spite of a January 26th Court of Appeal judgment reaffirming Udeze as the legitimate National Chairman of the AA.
Udeze alleged that the implicated INEC staff are actively lobbying the commission and the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to acknowledge a purported AA National Convention held on October 7, 2023. He asserted that this action blatantly disregards the Court of Appeal rulings, which had settled the internal leadership discord plaguing the party.
The AA’s national chairman accused the staff of intentionally distorting facts concerning ongoing lawsuits (FHC/AB/CS/12/2024) in Abeokuta and (FHC/KB/CS/12/2024) in Kebbi State.
According to Udeze, the actions of these staff members aim to undermine the Court of Appeal’s validation of his leadership and the party’s National Convention on March 14, 2021, where he was re-elected.
Udeze provided documentation of court judgments, consent agreements, and INEC records that unequivocally acknowledged him as the legitimate AA National Chairman.
Expressing apprehension over the alleged efforts of INEC staff to procure conflicting judgments that could plunge the party into fresh turmoil, Udeze urged INEC to probe the allegations and take appropriate disciplinary measures, including potential suspension, redeployment, or retirement of the implicated officials.
He emphasised the imperative for an impartial and objective electoral body committed to upholding the rule of law and ethical standards.