Jibrin Okutepa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who represented Senator David Mark in the African Democratic Congress leadership dispute, has expressed admiration for the Independent National Electoral Commission’s immediate adherence to the Supreme Court’s directive. Rather than waiting for formal notification, INEC proactively restored the ADC leadership details on its portal following the apex court’s decision.
In a social media post on Friday, Okutepa highlighted that INEC’s swift action demonstrates a commendable commitment to judicial respect. He noted that the electoral body acted without prompting, setting a positive example for other institutions.
The Supreme Court, in a judgment delivered on Thursday, partially allowed David Mark’s appeal and nullified the Court of Appeal’s order that had directed parties to maintain the status quo. The higher court criticized the appellate court for overstepping its jurisdiction by issuing such an order unilaterally. Consequently, the case was sent back to the Federal High Court for a substantive hearing.
The legal tussle began when Nafiu Bala, a former ADC vice chairman, filed a suit seeking to prevent the Mark-led executive from functioning as the party’s national officers. The defendants included the ADC, Mark, Rauf Aregbesola (National Secretary), INEC, and Ralph Nwosu, the party’s founder.
Okutepa, who declared himself a non-partisan legal practitioner, stated that the removal of David Mark and his team from INEC’s portal was based on the annulled Court of Appeal order. He praised INEC for respecting the rule of law, unlike some entities that ignore court directives until formally served.
He emphasized that INEC’s proactive compliance reflects a proper understanding of legal decorum. In a society where impunity often prevails, such behavior is exemplary. Okutepa urged other government bodies and individuals to emulate this respect for judicial authority to foster national progress.