INEC to meet over Atiku’s 2027 ticket

File photo: Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it will not take a position on the leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress until it obtains and studies the certified true copy of the Federal High Court judgment which invalidated the leadership the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress.

INEC’s position followed Thursday’s judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which nullified the Mark-led caretaker committee and invalidated decisions taken under its leadership, including the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

Speaking to Sunday Punch, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said the commission’s next line of action following the judgment would be to first obtain the certified true copy before making any decision.

“We can’t take a position until we see tthe judgement ourselves. We have to get the certified true copy because we don’t take decisions or reports of what the court said based on reports because the reports could be wrong,” he said.

Haruna added that the matter would be considered at the commission’s meeting next week.

“Well, this one is very straightforward even then, we are all here till next week when the commission meets. We will have to meet over it,” he said.

Haruna also indicated that the commission would comply with any further court order arising from an appeal by the Mark-led faction.

“Obviously, if the David Mark faction should appeal, which I am sure they will, and they get an injunction for stay of execution, obviously, we’ll have to obey that judgement,” he added.

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Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, nullified the leadership of the Mark-led caretaker committee, declaring its emergence contrary to the ADC constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.

The judgment followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, instituted by a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.

Gombe had argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over its leadership.

He consequently asked the court to invalidate the actions of the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party, respectively.

Upholding the suit, Justice Lifu nullified the process through which the caretaker committee emerged and the party conducted its presidential primary that produced Atiku as its flag bearer for the 2027 elections.

The court also invalidated Aregbesola’s emergence as National Secretary, the appointments of other national officers and the nominations of candidates presented by the party for the 2027 general elections.

It further ordered INEC not to recognise or act on decisions taken at the ADC’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.

The ADC, INEC, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu were listed as defendants in the suit.