A Federal High Court in Abuja has instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognize the Chief Edozie Njoku-led National Executive Committee of the National Rescue Movement, following the party’s emergency national convention held on January 17, 2025.
The convention was convened in Abuja to fill vacancies and address imbalances within the party’s leadership structure.
At the convention, which was aimed at enhancing the party’s national presence, Chief Edozie Njoku, the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, emerged as the National Chairman of NRM after leaving APGA.
Despite this, INEC had refused to accept the outcome of the convention, arguing that it did not monitor the exercise. This position was challenged by NRM in court, and on Wednesday, Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered a ruling against INEC’s stance.
The NRM, under Njoku’s leadership, filed a motion against INEC for an order of mandamus, compelling the commission to recognize and accept its leadership. Justice Egwuatu ruled that NRM had provided adequate notice of the emergency convention to INEC, which was required by law. The judge further noted that INEC had no justification for not monitoring the convention, as the notice given was within the mandatory 21-day period.
In his judgment, Justice Egwuatu declared that, in line with sections 82(1) and 83(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, INEC was constitutionally obliged to monitor and accept the emergency convention of NRM. He also ruled that INEC’s failure to do so was unlawful, as it amounted to a refusal to fulfill its constitutional duties.
The judge subsequently issued an order of mandamus, compelling INEC to accept and monitor the emergency convention, and to recognize the decisions made during the event, including the election of Njoku as the party’s National Chairman.
Following the judgment, Chief Edozie Njoku called on INEC to comply with the court order. He emphasized that the outcomes of the January 17 convention, including constitutional amendments, were legal and binding. “We are appealing to INEC to please, accept the order of mandamus imposed on them by the court that they should accept immediately our leadership,” Njoku stated.
He also urged INEC to ensure a level playing field for the party in upcoming elections, including by-elections and an election in Anambra State. “NRM has before now been going backward, and now, we want it to go forward to start building our structures,” Njoku added, stressing the importance of moving the party forward.
