INEC Clarifies Position on Court Judgment Nullifying Atiku's Candidacy

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified its position on a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party's presidential candidate. INEC said it had not received the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment and had not taken any decision on its implementation.

Reports had circulated on social media claiming that INEC had removed Atiku and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, from its portal following the court ruling. However, a check on INEC's portal showed that the names of the ADC candidates were still listed. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the commission had not received the court judgment and had not deliberated on the matter.

Haruna questioned the source of the reports claiming that INEC had acted on the ruling, insisting that the commission could not implement a judgment it had not officially received. He explained that obtaining a CTC of a court judgment usually takes time, noting that the commission needed to officially receive the document before taking any action.

The court judgment was delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu in Abuja, nullifying the leadership of the ADC led by former Senate President David Mark. The court also invalidated actions taken by the disputed leadership, including the process that produced Atiku as the party's presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The judgment followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman, North-East, who challenged the emergence of the Mark-led leadership. Gombe had argued that following the resignation of the party's former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to assume leadership of the ADC.

INEC had also disowned a separate publication circulating on social media which claimed that the commission had reaffirmed the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC. The publication, which featured the commission's logo and the image of its National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, was described as unauthorized.

INEC urged Nigerians to disregard the publication and obtain information about its activities only through its official and verified communication channels. The commission reaffirmed that it would not take any action until it officially receives the CTC of the court judgment.

Key points

• INEC has not received the court judgment nullifying Atiku's candidacy
• The commission has not taken any decision on the implementation of the judgment
• INEC's position would be guided by the appropriate judicial process