INEC to Meet Over Atiku’s 2027 Presidential Ticket Following Court Ruling

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will meet next week to consider the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), including the party's presidential primary that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The commission said it would not take a position on the party's leadership crisis until it obtains and reviews the certified true copy of the court judgment.

INEC Awaits Certified Court Judgment

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed the commission's position in an interview with Sunday PUNCH.

Haruna said INEC would not rely on media reports to determine its response, stressing that it needed to examine the court's official document before making a decision.

He added that the matter would be discussed at the commission's meeting scheduled for next week.

Haruna also said INEC would comply with any further court order if the Mark-led faction appeals the judgment and secures an injunction staying its execution.

Court Nullifies Mark-Led ADC Leadership

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered the judgment on Thursday, declaring that the emergence of the Mark-led caretaker committee 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.

Gombe had challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party. He argued that following the resignation of the former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the 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.

Atiku's 2027 Candidacy Affected

In upholding the suit, the court nullified the process through which the caretaker committee emerged, as well as the ADC presidential primary that produced Atiku as the party's flag bearer for the 2027 elections.

The judgment 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 2027 general elections.

Additionally, the court ordered 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.

INEC's position on the party's leadership and Atiku's candidacy is expected to become clearer after the commission reviews the certified judgment and considers the matter at its next meeting.