INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu Ordered Arrested After Leaving Office

The Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has directed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, over alleged contempt of court. The ruling came barely hours after Yakubu officially vacated his position as INEC Chairman.

The order followed a contempt proceeding initiated by the political party, Action Alliance (AA), which accused INEC and its former head of failing to comply with an earlier judgment. The case, referenced as FHC/OS/CS/194/2024, had been decided by Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi, who directed INEC to recognize and upload the names of the party’s duly elected National Executive Committee (NEC) members on its official portal.

Justice Demi-Ajayi had also affirmed the validity of the Action Alliance’s elective convention held on October 7, 2023, where Adekunle Rufai Omoaje emerged as the party’s National Chairman. The court maintained that the convention was properly conducted and monitored by INEC in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.

Yakubu Faces Contempt Charges Over Non-Compliance with Court Judgment

INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu is now facing contempt proceedings for the commission’s alleged failure to fully implement the court’s directive. Despite INEC’s claims that it had complied with the ruling, the Action Alliance insisted that its chairman’s name—Omoaje—was still missing from the electoral body’s website, even though other NEC members and state chairmen were listed.

The party argued that this partial compliance amounted to deliberate disobedience of a valid court order and undermined the integrity of the judiciary. The development prompted the latest ruling, which mandates the Inspector General of Police to effect Yakubu’s arrest within seven days and commence committal proceedings for contempt.

According to a fresh order dated October 7, 2025, and signed by court official O.M. Kilani, the court further awarded a cost of ₦100,000 against the judgment creditors. The order signals a deepening legal confrontation between INEC’s leadership and political actors dissatisfied with the commission’s internal compliance mechanisms.

Yakubu’s Exit and Implications for INEC’s Institutional Accountability

INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu’s exit from office coincides with renewed scrutiny of how the commission manages political party compliance and legal directives. Legal analysts have noted that this case could set an important precedent on whether outgoing public officers can be held accountable for actions taken during their tenure.

Observers also suggest that the court’s decision underscores the judiciary’s increasing insistence on institutional accountability, particularly among electoral bodies. While Yakubu has not yet publicly responded to the order, the INEC headquarters in Abuja has remained silent, sparking questions about whether the commission will appeal or comply with the court’s directive.

The outcome of this legal battle could influence the credibility of INEC’s internal processes as well as public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system. Political watchers say the case serves as a reminder that post-office immunity does not shield public officials from the consequences of judicial non-compliance.