INEC defers action on Atiku’s ADC ticket following court ruling

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated it will not make an immediate decision regarding the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) until it studies the recent court ruling invalidating the party’s leadership.

On Thursday, the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the David Mark-led caretaker committee, subsequently invalidating the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on the development, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, stated that the commission requires the certified true copy of the judgment to proceed.

“We can’t take a position until we see the judgement 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.

The INEC official added that the commission will formally consider the matter at its upcoming meeting next week. He stated that the commission will comply with any future court orders, including a potential injunction if the Mark-led faction files an appeal.

Justice Peter Lifu delivered the Thursday judgment in a suit instituted by the former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe.

Gombe successfully challenged the process through which David Mark and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, assumed control of the party after the resignation of the former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu. The court ruled that the caretaker committee’s emergence contradicted the ADC constitution, the Electoral Act, and the 1999 Constitution.

The ruling invalidated the presidential primary that produced Atiku, as well as Aregbesola’s emergence as National Secretary and all other candidate nominations for the 2027 elections under the faction’s leadership. The court further directed INEC to disregard decisions taken at the ADC’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.