INEC to Meet Over Atiku’s 2027 Presidential Ticket

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

The commission’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 party’s presidential primary that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its candidate for the 2027 general elections.

Speaking to Sunday PUNCH, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said the commission needed to obtain the certified judgment before deciding on its next steps.

Haruna explained that INEC would not rely on media reports to determine the contents of a court ruling, as such reports could be inaccurate.

He added that the commission would discuss the matter at its meeting next week.

The national commissioner also said INEC would comply with any further court order arising from an appeal by the Mark-led faction, including an injunction staying the execution of the judgment.

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

The judgment followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, filed by 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 argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over its leadership.

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

In his ruling, Justice Lifu nullified the process through which the caretaker committee emerged, as well as the presidential primary that produced Atiku as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.

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

It further directed 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.