Senator Victor Umeh, a prominent chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has strongly condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what he describes as unwarranted interference in the internal affairs of his political party. In a recent appearance on Channels Television, Umeh defended the leadership of David Mark, asserting that their decision to file an interlocutory appeal at the Court of Appeal was legally sound and entirely justified. He emphasized that the core issue at stake was jurisdiction — a fundamental legal principle that must be addressed before any case proceeds.
Umeh argued that the Federal High Court had no authority to hear the matter in the first place, as it pertains to the internal governance and leadership disputes within a political party. He stressed that when jurisdiction is challenged at the outset, the court is obligated to rule on that issue before proceeding further. “The truth is that there is no blame on David Mark’s leadership to approach the court of appeal with an interlocutory appeal on the Federal High Court’s refusal to throw away the case that the court has no jurisdiction,” he stated.
He explained that if a court lacks jurisdiction, any proceedings it conducts are legally invalid from the beginning. “If the court has no jurisdiction, it has no business going into the matter ab initio. It doesn’t matter how well the court tries the case; if you don’t have jurisdiction, everything you do thereafter will be a nullity,” Umeh said. He pointed out that the David Mark-led ADC leadership had correctly challenged Justice Nwite’s decision to assume jurisdiction over the matter, a move he described as legally appropriate.
Umeh further contended that the Court of Appeal should have recognized the lack of jurisdiction at an earlier stage, which would have prevented the prolonged legal process. “If the Court of Appeal had seen that the Federal High Court had no jurisdiction, it wouldn’t have gone on this long journey,” he remarked. He added that even the Court of Appeal itself may lack the authority to adjudicate on internal party matters, especially those concerning leadership disputes.
The ADC chieftain’s comments come amid growing tensions between the party and INEC over the electoral body’s decision to derecognize the ADC. Umeh’s stance reflects a broader concern among political stakeholders about the boundaries of INEC’s powers and the need for judicial respect for constitutional principles. His intervention underscores the ongoing legal and political battle over party autonomy and electoral governance in Nigeria.
As the legal proceedings continue, the case may set a significant precedent for how courts handle disputes involving political parties and electoral bodies. The outcome could influence future cases and shape the relationship between Nigeria’s electoral institutions and political organizations.
Leave a Comment