A faction of the National Rescue Movement backs INEC, warning against alleged attempts by forum shoppers to hijack the party leadership through the courts
NRM faction backs INEC, warns against party hijackA faction of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) has declared its support for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), insisting the electoral body has not violated any court order concerning the party’s leadership dispute.
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The party also warned against alleged attempts by what it described as “forum shoppers” to hijack its leadership through the courts.
Speaking during a press conference at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, NRM National Chairman Prince Chinedu Obi said the briefing was aimed at informing Nigerians about efforts to destabilise the party.
According to Obi, the individuals behind the legal actions are trying to blackmail INEC and unlawfully take control of the party.
He insisted that INEC remains in full compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court and that the party leadership rejects claims suggesting otherwise.
Court order against INEC chairman
The development comes shortly after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the INEC chairman, Joash Amupitan, to appear before the court on March 10 over a contempt charge filed by another faction of the party led by Edozie Njoku.
The order was issued by Justice Obiora Egwuatu following an application from the Njoku-led group, which alleged that the electoral commission disobeyed a court order directing it to recognise the outcome of an emergency convention.
However, Obi dismissed the allegations, describing them as a coordinated attempt to pressure INEC into recognising what he called an illegal leadership structure.
Leadership dispute within NRM
Providing details about the crisis, Obi said the party’s former national chairman, Isaac Chigozie Udeh, was suspended by his polling unit in September 2024 over allegations of anti-party activities.
He alleged that Udeh later collaborated with Njoku to destabilise the party by organising an emergency convention without the approval of the party’s leadership organs.
Obi commended INEC officials for resisting what he described as attempts to intimidate the commission into recognising the disputed leadership.
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He also called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria to caution judicial officers against litigants who allegedly exploit the courts to influence political party leadership disputes.
