Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for restoring the leadership of the African Democratic Congress on its portal following the Supreme Court judgment on the party’s leadership dispute.
Okutepa, who was lead counsel to former Senate President, David Mark, at the apex court, praised the commission for acting without waiting to be formally served with the judgment.
In a statement shared on his X handle on Friday, the senior lawyer said the action demonstrated respect for the rule of law.
“I am a legal practitioner. I am not a registered member of any political party in Nigeria. I am equally not an employee of any government. I owe no allegiance to anybody except the truth, justice, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I was the lead counsel to Sen. David Mark at the Supreme Court in the judgment delivered yesterday (Thursday).
“When I checked the INEC portal, it was clear that INEC, without prompting, has restored the leadership of the ADC to its portal,” he stated.
The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside the “status quo ante bellum” order earlier issued by the Court of Appeal in the leadership tussle within the ADC, holding that the appellate court acted without jurisdiction.
