2027: INEC to meet over Atiku’s ADC ticket

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to convene next week to review the Federal High Court judgment impacting the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the presidential candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 general elections.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, stated that the commission will withhold its official position until it formally obtains and reviews the Certified True Copy of the court's ruling, emphasizing that administrative decisions will not rely solely on media reporting.

“We can’t take a position until we see the judgment 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,” Haruna said.

Haruna added that the electoral body will thoroughly evaluate the matter during its scheduled weekly meeting and remain prepared to comply with any subsequent judicial directives such as an order of stay of execution should the David Mark-led faction successfully appeal the verdict.

“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 judgment,” he noted.

The legal controversy stems from a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Abuja on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu, which nullified the caretaker leadership committee led by former Senate President David Mark. The court ruled that the committee's formation violated the ADC constitution, the Electoral Act, and the 1999 Constitution.

The ruling invalidated key actions taken by the faction, including the presidential primary that produced Atiku Abubakar as the party’s 2027 flag bearer, the emergence of former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, and all candidate nominations presented by the leadership.

 The suit was initiated by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), who contested the legality of the leadership transition following the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.