Former INEC Chairman Faces Arrest Over Court Contempt in Osun

In a dramatic turn following his exit from office, the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, is now the subject of a court-ordered arrest.
The Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, issued the directive to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over alleged contempt of court.
The case was brought by the Action Alliance (AA) party, which argues that INEC and Yakubu deliberately ignored a prior ruling. That ruling, delivered by Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi, mandated INEC to update its official portal with the names of the AA National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, and his National Executive Committee (NEC), affirming the validity of the party’s October 2023 convention.
Despite INEC’s claim of compliance, the AA insisted the court order was defied because Chairman Omoaje’s name remained omitted from the website, even as other party officials were listed.
The new order, dated October 7, 2025, gives the IGP seven days to arrest the former INEC boss and commence committal proceedings.
Curiously, the court also awarded ₦100,000 in costs against the party that brought the initial suit.