Atiku’s 2027 Bid: INEC to Abide by Court’s Final Decision, Amupitan Says
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said the commission will comply with court decisions on whether former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar can contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress.
Amupitan said INEC was constitutionally obligated to obey court orders, particularly those issued by the Supreme Court, regardless of 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 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 be guided by the courts.
“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 pushed for an accelerated hearing when the ADC leadership dispute emerged in April to prevent 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 proceeded on appeal.
Amupitan also expressed concern over the growing number of election-related lawsuits involving the commission, disclosing that more than 300 cases were pending against INEC 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 the procurement of sensitive election materials and called for reforms to ensure that pre-election disputes were resolved between six months and one year before voting.
According to him, early resolution of such cases would give INEC sufficient time to complete its logistical preparations.
Amupitan acknowledged that the commission could face public criticism for implementing court decisions, despite being legally bound to obey them.
The comments come amid a prolonged leadership crisis in the ADC, which has cast uncertainty over the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
On November 5, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the leadership of the ADC led by Mark and invalidated decisions taken by the faction, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.
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 restrained INEC from recognising or acting on decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
The ADC rejected the judgment and vowed to challenge it at the Court of Appeal. Its 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 provide reliable evidence of Gombe’s voluntary resignation.
The legal dispute has raised questions about the validity of the ADC’s leadership structure and the nominations made under the Mark-led executive ahead of the 2027 general elections.
By Oluwafemi Shodipe.
