2027: INEC Will Abide by Court Ruling on Atiku’s Eligibility to Contest – Amupitan

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that the commission will respect and implement any court judgment concerning former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Amupitan stressed that INEC was constitutionally bound to obey court orders, particularly decisions of the Supreme Court, regardless of public opinion or political reactions.

He made this known on Thursday during a public dialogue organised by Chatham House in collaboration with the Kimpact Development Initiative in London.

The discussion was themed, “Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot.”

Responding to questions about whether Atiku could emerge as the ADC presidential candidate if the court judgment invalidating the leadership of the faction led by former Senate President David Mark remained in force, the INEC chairman said the commission would have no choice but to comply with the final judicial decision.

He stated, “If he eventually fails, well, I’m obligated under Section 285 of the Constitution of Nigeria to obey every court order, especially if it is from the Supreme Court.”

Amupitan disclosed that INEC had initially advocated an expedited resolution of the ADC leadership dispute when it emerged in April, warning that prolonged litigation could complicate preparations for the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the commission had proposed that the dispute be resolved within three weeks to prevent uncertainty over the party’s leadership and electoral arrangements.

“When it happened in April, the position of the commission was that the matter should be resolved within three weeks,” he said.

He explained that INEC had complied with the court’s directive to suspend further action on the matter pending the determination of the case, which was subsequently taken to the Court of Appeal.

The electoral umpire also expressed concern over the growing number of election-related lawsuits involving the commission, revealing that more than 300 cases were currently pending as preparations for the 2027 elections gathered momentum.

“Some of those issues we have with court cases, over 300 cases hanging on the neck of INEC, and elections is just about 66 days away,” Amupitan said.

He further disclosed that INEC had commenced the procurement of sensitive materials required for the 2027 elections.

The chairman called for electoral reforms that would ensure political party disputes and other pre-election legal matters were concluded between six months and one year before the commencement of voting.

He maintained that resolving such disputes early would enable the commission to plan effectively, complete its logistical arrangements and avoid unnecessary uncertainty ahead of elections.

Amupitan also acknowledged that INEC could face criticism from political stakeholders and members of the public for implementing controversial court judgments, but insisted that the commission must remain guided by the law.

ADC Leadership Crisis Deepens

The INEC chairman’s comments come amid the prolonged leadership crisis within the ADC, which has raised questions about the party’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections and the validity of its political arrangements.

On November 5, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the leadership structure of the ADC faction headed by former Senate President David Mark, ruling that the process through which Mark and other national officers emerged was unlawful.

The judgment followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, who challenged the emergence of the Mark-led leadership following the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu and other party officials.

The court also invalidated decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership, including arrangements connected to the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Consequently, INEC was restrained from recognising or acting on decisions reached at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.

The crisis became more complicated following another ruling in which the court rejected a disputed resignation letter allegedly written by Gombe.

However, the ADC has rejected the judgment and vowed to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, insisted that Gombe voluntarily resigned from his position, claiming that the party possessed the original copy of the resignation letter bearing his signature.

Justice Lifu, however, ruled that the document did not provide sufficient evidence to establish that Gombe had voluntarily resigned.

The ongoing legal battle has cast uncertainty over the ADC’s leadership structure and the validity of decisions taken by the Mark-led executive, particularly those relating to the party’s preparations and candidate selection for the 2027 general elections.

With the electoral timetable approaching, the outcome of the court proceedings is expected to play a significant role in determining the ADC’s political direction and whether Atiku Abubakar can pursue his presidential ambition under the party’s platform.

Join us on our WhatsApp Platform @KOIKIMEDIA NEWS YOUR PAGE

koikimedia Bringing the World 🌎 Closer to Your Doorstep