The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will abide by any 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 those issued by the Supreme Court, regardless of public reactions.
He made this known on Thursday during a dialogue at Chatham House in London, organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative. The event was themed, “Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot.”
Responding to a question on Atiku’s eligibility to contest under the ADC if the court ruling nullifying the leadership of the faction led by former Senate President David Mark remained in force, Amupitan said the commission would comply with the final decision of the court.
“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 explained that the commission had called for an accelerated hearing when the ADC leadership dispute emerged in April to prevent the crisis 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 added that INEC had complied with a court directive to suspend action and await the outcome of the case, which was subsequently taken to the Court of Appeal.
Amupitan also expressed concern over the increasing number of election-related cases 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 procurement of sensitive materials for the 2027 general elections.
The INEC chairman called for reforms to ensure that pre-election disputes were resolved between six months and one year before elections, noting that early resolution would give the commission enough time to complete its logistical preparations.
Amupitan further acknowledged that INEC could face public criticism for implementing court decisions, even when it was legally required to obey them.
The comments come amid the prolonged leadership crisis in the ADC, which has created 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 faction led by Mark, 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 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.
The crisis deepened after another ruling by the court rejected a disputed resignation letter allegedly written by Gombe, further complicating the leadership dispute.
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 that Gombe had voluntarily resigned.
The legal dispute 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.
