2027: INEC will obey court ruling on Atiku’s candidacy – Amupitan

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan. Photo: INEC

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said the commission will abide by the court’s decision on whether former Vice President Atiku Abubakar can contest the 2027 presidential election under the African Democratic Congress.

Amupitan said INEC was constitutionally obligated to obey court orders, particularly those issued by the Supreme Court, regardless of the public reaction to such decisions.

He spoke on Thursday during a dialogue at Chatham House in London, organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative, with the theme, “Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot.”

Responding to a question on whether Atiku could contest on the ADC platform if the court ruling nullifying the leadership of the faction led by former Senate President David Mark remained in force, Amupitan said, “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.”

The INEC chairman said the commission had pushed for an accelerated hearing when the ADC leadership dispute emerged in April to avoid complications in preparations for the 2027 elections.

“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 a court directive to suspend action and await the outcome of the case, which subsequently went on appeal.

Amupitan, however, lamented the growing number of election-related litigation, saying the commission had more than 300 cases pending against it, with the 2027 elections approaching.

“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,” he said.

He disclosed that the commission had commenced procurement of sensitive election materials for the 2027 polls, urging reforms to ensure that pre-election disputes were resolved six months to one year before voting.

According to him, early resolution of such disputes would give INEC sufficient time to conclude its logistical arrangements.

Amupitan also acknowledged that the commission could face public criticism for implementing court decisions, despite being legally bound to obey them.

The comments come amid the protracted leadership crisis in the ADC, which has thrown the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections into uncertainty.

On November 5, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, nullified the leadership of the ADC led by Mark, declaring the process that produced the former Senate President and other national officers unlawful.

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

The court also invalidated decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

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

PUNCH Online reports that the crisis deepened following another ruling by the court rejecting a disputed resignation letter allegedly written by Gombe. The development further complicated the battle over the party’s leadership.

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

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, maintained that Gombe voluntarily resigned, insisting that the party had the original copy of the letter bearing his signature.

However, Justice Lifu ruled that the document did not constitute reliable evidence of Gombe’s voluntary resignation.

The legal battle has raised questions about the validity of the party’s leadership structure and the nominations made under the Mark-led executive ahead of the 2027 general elections.