By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Chairman of theIndependent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has said former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar could be excluded from the 2027 presidential election if he fails to overturn the court judgment affecting the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Amupitan said INEC was constitutionally obligated to obey court orders, particularly decisions of the Supreme Court, regardless of their political implications.
He made the clarification on Thursday during an engagement at Chatham House in London, where he was asked whether Atiku would remain eligible to contest the 2027 presidential election on the ADC platform if the judgment against the party’s leadership was not reversed.
Responding, the INEC chairman said, “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 added that implementing politically sensitive court decisions could expose the electoral commission to public criticism, but maintained that INEC must comply with the law.
The controversy follows a November 5 judgment by the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, which nullified the leadership of the ADC faction led by former Senate President David Mark.
The court also invalidated decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership, including the process through which Atiku emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.
The suit was instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman, who challenged the emergence of the Mark-led leadership following the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu and other party officials.
However, the ADC has rejected the judgment and vowed to challenge it at the Court of Appeal, insisting that its leadership arrangement remains valid.
The development has raised fresh questions about Atiku’s participation in the 2027 presidential election, particularly as the party battles to resolve its leadership crisis.
Meanwhile, Amupitan disclosed that INEC was facing more than 300 pending court cases, with approximately 66 days remaining before the 2027 general election.
He expressed concern that prolonged pre-election litigation could affect the commission’s preparations, noting that INEC had already commenced the procurement of sensitive election materials.
The INEC chairman called for pre-election disputes to be resolved six months to one year before elections to allow the commission to concentrate on its logistical preparations.
