Why Court Ordered Arrest Of Ex-INEC Chairman Yakubu

A Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has issued an order for the arrest of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for contempt of court.

This order was announced by Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi just hours after Yakubu vacated his position.

The court directed the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to apprehend Yakubu and initiate committal proceedings within seven days. Earlier that day, Yakubu officially transferred leadership of INEC to National Commissioner Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will serve as Acting Chairman until a new substantive head is appointed. The handover took place during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at INEC headquarters in Abuja.

The arrest order follows a lingering dispute between the commission and the Action Alliance (AA) party over INEC’s alleged refusal to comply with a previous court judgment.

In suit number FHC/OS/CS/194/2024, filed by the party, the court had ordered INEC to upload the name of Adekunle Rufai Omoaje as the National Chairman of AA, along with members of its National Executive Committee (NEC), on its official portal.

The October 2023 elective convention that produced Omoaje and other NEC members was ruled valid by the court, which affirmed it was properly monitored and supervised by INEC officials in line with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

Although INEC claimed to have complied with the judgment, Omoaje’s name has remained absent from the commission’s website as of press time, even though the names of state chairmen and other NEC members have been published. The court described the continued omission as a violation of its order.

A certified copy of the latest ruling, dated October 7, 2025, and signed by O.M. Kilani on behalf of the Court Registrar, stated:

“It is hereby ordered that the Inspector General of Police shall cause the arrest and shall charge the defendant/judgment debtors for contempt and committal proceedings within seven days of this ruling.”