The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will abide by the final court decision on whether former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar can contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, said the commission was constitutionally bound to obey court orders, particularly decisions of the Supreme Court, regardless of public reactions.
Amupitan spoke on Thursday during a dialogue at Chatham House in London, organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative, on the theme, “Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot.”
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Responding to a question about Atiku’s eligibility to contest under the ADC if the judgment nullifying the leadership of the faction led by former Senate President David Mark remained in force, Amupitan said the commission would comply with the law.
“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,” he said.
The INEC chairman said the commission had advocated an accelerated hearing of the ADC leadership dispute when it emerged in April to prevent uncertainty from affecting 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 later proceeded to appeal.
Amupitan also expressed concern over the volume of election-related litigation facing the commission, disclosing that more than 300 cases were pending as preparations for the 2027 polls continued.
“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 begun procuring sensitive materials for the elections, adding that pre-election disputes should be resolved six months to one year before voting.
According to him, early resolution of such cases would enable INEC to complete its logistical preparations without unnecessary uncertainty.
The comments come amid the leadership crisis in the ADC, which has raised questions about the party’s structure and the validity of its nominations ahead of the 2027 elections.
On November 5, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, nullified the leadership of the Mark-led faction, ruling that the process that produced the former Senate President and other national officers was 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. It restrained INEC from recognising or acting on decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting of July 27, 2025.
The ADC has rejected the judgment and vowed to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, has maintained that Gombe voluntarily resigned, saying the party possesses the original resignation letter bearing his signature.
However, Justice Lifu ruled that the document did not provide reliable evidence of Gombe’s voluntary resignation.
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