We Are Yet to Receive Court Judgment on ADC Leadership Crisis – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is yet to receive the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark.

The commission also dismissed reports that it had removed former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, from its online portal, describing the claims as unfounded.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this to journalists in Abuja on Friday.

Haruna said the commission had not reviewed the judgment or decided on its next course of action because it was yet to obtain the official court document.

He explained that securing a Certified True Copy of a court judgment could take several days, usually about a week.

The clarification followed a ruling by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which nullified the David Mark-led ADC leadership and invalidated decisions taken by the disputed leadership, including the process through which the party produced its candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the party representing the North-East, who challenged the emergence of the Mark-led leadership.

The court ruled that the process through which the leadership assumed office did not comply with relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, leading to the nullification of its actions.

However, the ADC has rejected the ruling and announced plans to challenge it at the appellate court.

The party also disclosed that it had filed an application for a stay of execution pending the determination of its appeal.

It urged INEC not to take any action based on the judgment that could affect its political activities or prejudice the ongoing legal process.

The ADC further said it had formally notified the electoral commission of its appeal and the application for a stay of execution.