Posted by Chinenye on Fri 13th Nov, 2026 - tori.ng
Atiku Abubakar may face another challenge in his bid to become Nigeria's next president as a court case rocks his new political party, ADC.
(INEC chairman Joash Amupitan. Photo Credit: Buisinessday)
INEC chairman Joash Amupitan says the commission will follow whatever the court decides on whether Atiku Abubakar can run for president in 2027 under the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
He spoke on Thursday at a dialogue at Chatham House in London.
The event was organised with the Kimpact Development Initiative and was themed "Nigeria's 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot."
Amupitan said INEC is bound by law to obey court orders, especially those from the Supreme Court, no matter how the public reacts.
He pointed to Section 285 of the Constitution as the basis for this duty.
He said INEC asked for a quick hearing when the ADC leadership fight broke out in April, hoping it would be settled within three weeks.
Instead, INEC was told to hold off until the case was decided, and it has since gone on appeal.
Joash also complained that INEC is facing more than 300 court cases just 66 days before the election.
He said the commission has already started buying sensitive election materials.
Reports states that he wants election disputes settled six months to a year before voting, so INEC has enough time to plan.
He admitted INEC could be criticised for carrying out court rulings but said it has no choice.
The comments come as the ADC leadership crisis leaves the party's 2027 plans in doubt.
On November 5, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja cancelled the leadership led by David Mark.
He said the process that brought Mark and other national officers to power was unlawful.
The case was brought by former ADC Deputy National Chairman Nafiu Bala Gombe.
The judge also cancelled decisions made under the Mark led leadership, including the process that made Atiku the party's presidential candidate.
He barred INEC from recognising decisions from the party's July 27, 2025 national executive meeting.
A separate ruling also rejected a disputed resignation letter that Gombe was said to have written.
The judge said the document was not reliable proof that he resigned voluntarily.
The ADC has rejected the judgment and plans to appeal.
Its spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, insisted that Gombe resigned willingly and said the party has the original letter with his signature.