By Akindele Orimolade
Amid deepening cracks within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice,Dr. Kayode Ajulo Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has mounted a robust defence of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), dismissing calls for his removal as reckless and anti-democratic.
Dr. Ajulo warned that growing attacks from a faction within the ADC over INEC’s refusal to recognise its leadership claim pose a direct threat to Nigeria’s constitutional order and democratic stability.
At the centre of the controversy is INEC’s insistence on recognising only party leadership backed by valid and subsisting court judgments , a stance Dr. Ajulo says is not optional, but a constitutional obligation.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja delivered judgment on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership crisis case on March 12, 2026. The court dismissed an appeal filed by the faction led by David Mark and directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, affecting leadership recognition.
According to him, Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), alongside the Electoral Act 2022, leaves no room for discretion, mandating INEC to act strictly in compliance with judicial pronouncements.
He stressed that the commission’s position is firmly rooted in law, not politics.
According to him: “The courts have spoken, and their decisions remain binding until set aside through due process. They are not mere opinions to be ignored when inconvenient.”
He accused the aggrieved faction of attempting to bypass both the ADC’s internal constitution and established legal procedures in its quest for control, only to turn around and attack institutions enforcing the law.
Dr. Ajulo described such conduct as dangerous, warning that undermining judicial authority for political gain could erode the very foundation of Nigeria’s democracy.
“The rule of law is the backbone of any enduring democratic system. It ensures that no individual or group can bend the rules to suit personal ambition,” he said.
The learned silk further dismissed calls for Amupitan’s resignation as an attempt to intimidate INEC into submission, insisting that the electoral body must remain independent and guided solely by legal principles.
“Prof. Amupitan has not taken sides. He has simply given effect to subsisting judicial authority with professionalism and restraint”, Dr. Ajulo added.
The Attorney-General urged the INEC chairman to remain steadfast, emphasizing that upholding the law, even in the face of political pressure, is the true test of institutional integrity.
Dr. Ajulo also reaffirmed his own commitment to constitutional principles, noting that his intervention was driven not by politics, but by duty.
Hear him:“In times like this, silence is not an option. Those who understand the law must speak, regardless of the consequences”.
He concluded with a strong reminder that Nigeria’s democratic future depends on respect for its institutions and adherence to the rule of law.
“The courts are the final arbiters. Their decisions must be obeyed — not debated in the court of public opinion,” he stressed.
Dr. Ajulo maintained that rather than condemnation, the INEC chairman deserves recognition for upholding constitutional supremacy and protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.
The learned silk while justifying his intervention in the topical national issue said as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, he owes it a duty, without regards to his current office to be on the side of the law, always.