The National Chairman of the Action Alliance (AA), Chief Kenneth Udeze, has refuted reports alleging that a Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo ordered the arrest and imprisonment of the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Udeze described the reports as false and misleading, urging Nigerians to disregard them.

“It has come to our attention that some individuals are circulating false information alleging that a Federal High Court ordered the arrest of the former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. There is no such judgment anywhere. I urge Nigerians and our party members to ignore these rumours,” Udeze said.

Reports had earlier claimed that Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi of the Federal High Court in Osogbo directed the arrest of Professor Yakubu for allegedly failing to comply with a judgment ordering INEC to relist certain national officers of the Action Alliance on its website.

The case was said to have been filed by a former party member, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, and his associates, who sought recognition from INEC as the party’s legitimate leaders.

However, Udeze maintained that the claim was the handiwork of individuals expelled from the party. He noted that the leadership dispute within the Action Alliance had been conclusively resolved in his favour by competent courts.

“The issue of the authentic leadership of the Action Alliance has been conclusively settled by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in Abuja in favour of our national leadership,” Udeze said. “Omoaje and his cohorts, having lost multiple cases, have now resorted to fraudulent tactics by obtaining a dubious judgment from Osogbo.”

He further described the purported ruling as “fraudulently procured,” adding that the party’s legal team had been directed to take necessary steps to set it aside.

“The Action Alliance faithful across Nigeria and beyond should remain calm and law-abiding. Our lawyers have been mandated to do everything within the law to set aside this fraudulent judgment obtained by Omoaje and his associates,” Udeze stated.

Reaffirming his position as the duly recognised National Chairman of the Action Alliance, Udeze urged members to remain united and not be distracted by what he described as attempts to destabilise the party.