The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has been ordered to appear before the Federal High Court on March 10, 2026, to respond to allegations of contempt of court.

The directive followed the commission’s alleged failure to comply with an earlier court order instructing INEC to recognise the National Rescue Mission (NRM) executive led by Chief Edozie Njoku as the party’s legitimate leadership.

The order was issued by Justice Obiora Egwuatu during proceedings on Wednesday after the INEC chairman failed to appear before the court.

We Don’t Want Inclusion For Women In Governance – Patience Jonathan, Douye Diri Clash

Counsel to INEC, M.S. Bawa, had requested an adjournment, citing an emergency. However, the judge declined the request and proceeded with issuing a summons against the commission’s chairman.

Lead counsel to the NRM, Oladimeji Ekengba, argued that contempt proceedings are quasi-criminal in nature, stressing that the defendant must be physically present in court.

Following the submission, Justice Egwuatu directed that a fresh hearing notice be served on the INEC chairman, ordering him to appear in court at the next hearing.

The judge also asked the INEC boss to “show cause” why he should not be committed to prison for allegedly disobeying the court’s directive.

The dispute originated from a mandamus order issued on March 5, 2025, which compelled INEC to recognise the outcome of the NRM national convention held in January 2025.

The court had specifically directed the electoral body to accept the convention that produced the Edozie Njoku-led leadership of the party.

Due to earlier challenges in personally serving the INEC chairman with court documents, the court had previously approved substituted service of Form 48, an official notice warning of the consequences of disobeying a court order.

Under the arrangement, the notice could be delivered to any staff member at the INEC national headquarters in Abuja.

Meanwhile, officials of the National Rescue Mission expressed confidence that the electoral commission would eventually comply with the court’s directive and formally recognise their leadership.