A ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja has drawn attention to the strict procedural standards required in election-related disputes, after a contempt application against the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission was struck out.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik dismissed the case after the applicant, Edozie Njoku, failed to properly pursue the action in line with legal requirements. The suit had sought to commit the INEC chairman, Joash Amupitan, to prison over alleged non-compliance with a court directive to monitor a party convention.

The court heard that the applicant did not personally serve the required legal documents on the respondent, a critical step in contempt proceedings. Justice Abdulmalik emphasised that such cases, being quasi-criminal in nature, demand strict adherence to due process, including direct service of notice.

According to the judge, it is the responsibility of the litigant not the court to ensure that all procedural steps are completed. The failure to meet this obligation, she said, left the court with no option but to strike out the case.

The dispute is tied to internal disagreements within the National Rescue Movement, where competing claims to leadership prompted legal action. A previous court order had directed INEC to monitor a party convention, but authorities say this could not be executed because another convention had already taken place.

Following the ruling, officials aligned with the party’s recognised leadership welcomed the decision, describing it as a reaffirmation of lawful process. Legal observers note that the outcome underscores the importance of procedural compliance in resolving political disputes, especially as parties prepare for the 2027 general elections.