The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is yet to meet to consider the implications of a Federal High Court judgment nullifying the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The commission disclosed that it was yet to receive the Certified True Copy of the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, November 5.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the commission had not taken any decision concerning Atiku’s candidacy or that of his running mate, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi.
Haruna made the clarification during a telephone interview on Friday, November 6, following reports circulating on social media that the commission had removed the names of the two politicians from its candidates’ portal.
He dismissed the reports, insisting that INEC could not act on a judgment it had not officially received.
“I don’t know where that statement came from. Somebody just forwarded it to me. We haven’t received the judgment yet,” he said.
The commissioner explained that obtaining a certified copy of a court judgment could take time, noting that it usually takes about a week to secure the document.
He also confirmed that the commission had not convened a meeting to deliberate on the ruling or determine its implications for the ADC and its candidates.
A check of INEC’s candidates’ portal on Friday showed that Atiku and Amaechi were still listed as the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
The clarification followed the judgment by Justice Lifu, which nullified the leadership structure of the ADC led by former Senate President David Mark and invalidated decisions taken under it, including the party’s presidential primary that produced Atiku.
The suit was instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman for the North-East, who challenged the process through which the Mark-led leadership emerged.
Gombe argued that the leadership arrangement violated the party’s constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu held that the process through which the disputed leadership emerged failed to comply with the applicable legal requirements. The court consequently nullified the leadership arrangement and decisions taken under it, including the nomination process for the 2027 elections.
The judgment has raised uncertainty over the ADC’s leadership, its presidential ticket and the status of other candidates nominated under the disputed executive.
However, the ADC rejected the ruling and indicated its intention to challenge it at a higher court. Atiku also rejected the decision and maintained that he would continue pursuing his presidential ambition.
The party has taken steps to appeal the judgment, while the legal dispute continues to generate uncertainty over its preparations for the 2027 elections.
INEC’s position suggests that the commission will first examine the certified judgment before deciding on any administrative action concerning the party’s candidates.
For now, the continued appearance of Atiku and Amaechi’s names on the commission’s portal does not amount to a final determination of the legal status of their nomination.
The next steps by the ADC, the courts and INEC are expected to determine the implications of the ruling for the party’s participation in the 2027 presidential election.
