The Action Alliance (AA) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of disregarding valid court judgments by excluding candidates nominated by the party’s recognised leadership from the purported list of candidates for the 2027 General Elections.
According to an official statement signed by the National Chairman of Action Alliance, Chief Barr. Kenneth Udeze, the party described the publication as a deliberate violation of judicial pronouncements affirming the Udeze-led National Executive Committee, insisting that the electoral commission acted in contempt of the Court of Appeal.
The party maintained that INEC was fully aware of the appellate court’s decisions recognising the Udeze-led leadership but proceeded to publish a list that omitted candidates produced by that leadership, an action it said undermines the rule of law and the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Action Alliance also argued that the omission contravenes Section 29 of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates INEC to publish the names of candidates duly nominated by political parties. It stated that its presidential and other candidates emerged through valid party primaries conducted within the timeframe prescribed by law.
The party warned that the commission’s action sets a dangerous precedent by ignoring binding judicial decisions and interfering with the internal affairs of political parties.
AA consequently demanded that INEC withdraw the published list and issue a corrected version reflecting candidates nominated by the Chief Barr. Kenneth Udeze-led leadership within 48 hours.
The party warned that failure to comply would leave it with no option but to pursue all available legal remedies, including contempt proceedings against the commission.
Action Alliance further called on the media, civil society organisations, democracy advocates and the international community to closely monitor the situation, insisting that INEC must respect court judgments and uphold the rule of law in the management of the country’s electoral process.
