Some members of the Accord party staged a protest on Tuesday at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja, demanding immediate recognition of Prof. Christopher Imumolen as the party’s National Chairman.
The protesters, carrying placards and a formal petition, urged INEC to comply with existing court orders affirming Imumolen’s leadership and update its records accordingly.
Speaking during the protest, Imumolen, a former presidential candidate of the party, expressed frustration over what he called INEC’s reluctance to enforce judicial decisions.
He stressed that the commission, as a regulatory body, must remain neutral and uphold the rule of law.
“We have not come here to cause any problem, but to speak because it seems INEC has not been listening. INEC should not be found supporting one faction over another, especially when there is a court order giving direction. A court order is not advisory; it is meant to be obeyed,” Imumolen said.
He questioned INEC for complying with similar court orders for other parties, such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while failing to do so for Accord. Despite submitting multiple court orders and petitions, INEC has continued to recognise the Maxwell Mgbudem-led faction.
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“We have submitted numerous letters and court proceedings to INEC, yet their website still reflects another person as chairman. Justice delayed is justice denied,” he stated.
Imumolen also alleged that the Mgbudem-led faction has been illegally removing state chairmen who support the court-mandated leadership.
“INEC is under a constitutional obligation to obey valid court orders. If there is any claim that an order has expired, the critical question remains: why was it not obeyed while it was subsisting? Had INEC complied accordingly, Prof. Chris Imumolen would have been duly reflected on the INEC website as national chairman, pending any application by Mr. Maxwell Mgbudem to vacate the order, which has not happened to date,” he said.
The protesters’ petition demanded the immediate recognition and formal listing of Imumolen as national chairman on the INEC website.
“We hereby demand that INEC immediately recognise Chris Imumolen as national chairman in full compliance with subsisting court orders and cease recognition of Mgbudem, as no court order authorises such recognition. All duly elected state chairmen, whose tenures remain valid, must also be recognised by INEC without prejudice,” he added.
The affected states include Zamfara, Borno, Ogun, Katsina, Yobe, Bauchi, Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos, Osun, Nasarawa, FCT, Edo, Delta, Benue, Oyo, Plateau, and Kwara.
Imumolen warned that failure to comply risks placing INEC in conflict with judicial authorities and the constitutional order.
“Court orders are meant to be obeyed—not ignored, not delayed, and certainly not selectively applied. We trust that INEC will act swiftly to correct these anomalies and uphold the sanctity of the law,” he said.
He also alleged that Mgbudem has continued to use institutional mechanisms to intimidate and victimize state chairmen who do not align with his claim to leadership.
Addressing the protesters, INEC National Commissioner Prof. Abdullahi Zuru said the commission would consider the petition.
“I have listened to what you have said. I have received your communication. I will forward this to the commission, and it will look into it and act appropriately,” Zuru said.
