National Rescue Movement Alleges Leadership Hijack Attempt; Backs INEC Amidst Contempt Charges and Judicial "Forum Shopping"

NRM Chairman Prince Chinedu Obi defends INEC and Prof. Amupitan against contempt charges, warning of "forum shoppers" attempting to hijack the party.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 9:39 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The PUNCH

Defending Electoral Integrity Against "Forum Shoppers"

In a high-stakes press conference at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, the National Rescue Movement (NRM) has thrown its weight behind the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). NRM National Chairman, Prince Chinedu Obi, asserted on Thursday that the electoral body is in full compliance with existing judicial mandates. This public endorsement serves as a direct rebuttal to allegations that INEC has flouted court orders, which Obi described as a calculated campaign by "serial forum shoppers" to blackmail the commission and destabilize the party’s legitimate leadership.

The Legal Stand-off: Contempt Charges and Adjournments

The NRM’s defense of INEC follows a recent order by a Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice Obiora Egwuatu summoned the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), to appear on March 10. The summons concerns a contempt charge brought by a rival NRM faction led by Edozie Njoku. The Njoku-led group alleges that INEC failed to recognize the outcome of an "emergency convention" purportedly held in early 2025. However, INEC’s legal counsel, M.S. Bawa, has since filed a counter-affidavit challenging the competence of the charge and seeking to have the matter quashed.

Internal Power Struggle and Mandamus Disputes

The friction within the NRM traces back to the suspension of the former national chairman, Isaac Chigozie Udeh, in September 2024 over allegations of anti-party activities. Prince Chinedu Obi alleged that Udeh and Njoku conspired to stage an "imaginary convention" on January 17, 2025, without the approval of the party’s governing organs. The Njoku faction claims a mandamus order issued on March 5, 2025, compels INEC to accept their leadership. Obi dismissed these claims as a misinterpretation of the court's judgment, praising INEC for resisting intimidation.