BY CHJIOKE CHARLES
Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), counsel to Senator David Mark, has disclosed that a personal check driven by curiosity confirmed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reinstated the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on its official portal following the Supreme Court judgment on the party’s leadership dispute.
Okutepa, who represented Mark at the apex court, said he independently verified the development shortly after the ruling, describing INEC’s action as timely and consistent with the rule of law.
“I am a legal practitioner. I am not a registered member of any political party in Nigeria. I am equally not an employee of any government. I owe no allegiance to anybody except the truth, justice and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I was the lead counsel to Sen David Mark at the Supreme Court in the judgment delivered by the Supreme Court yesterday,” he said.
He explained that his curiosity led him to review INEC’s records, where he observed the update. “When I checked INEC portal it was clear that INEC without prompting has restored to their portal the leadership of ADC. For me the restoration of the names of the leadership of ADC on INEC portal… is the right thing to do,” he stated.
Providing context, Okutepa noted that the Supreme Court partly allowed Mark’s appeal and invalidated the earlier directive of the Court of Appeal which ordered parties to maintain “status quo ante bellum,” ruling that the appellate court lacked jurisdiction to make such an order.
“The decision of the Supreme Court yesterday was clear. The appeal of Sen David Mark was allowed in part. The order of the Court of Appeal for ‘maintainance of status quo ante bellum’ was held to have been made without jurisdiction and accordingly set aside,” he said, adding that INEC had relied on that now-nullified order to delist Mark’s leadership from its portal.
He commended INEC for acting without delay or insistence on formal service of the judgment, noting that the commission was present during proceedings at the Supreme Court. “INEC as a corporate entity has accorded respect to the decision of the Supreme Court without pretending that it was yet to be served formally with the judgment. The prompt restoration of the leadership of ADC to INEC portal is commendable. That is how it should be under the rule of law,” Okutepa said.
The senior advocate used the moment to criticise what he described as widespread disregard for judicial authority across institutions, warning that such conduct undermines governance.
“Too many in power have no respect for court and courts orders. In most cases impunity reigns supreme in our land… Everyone appears to be law unto themselves in this country,” he said.
He urged INEC to remain resolute in safeguarding democratic principles. “On this particular occasion I must commend INEC… INEC must do what it needs to do for the good of Nigeria and democracy. INEC must be bold and courageous to attain good success in protecting and safeguarding Nigerian democracy,” he added.
The development is expected to influence the ongoing leadership contest within the ADC, potentially strengthening Mark’s faction and reinforcing expectations that public institutions align promptly with judicial pronouncements, particularly from the Supreme Court.
