By Our Reporter
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will meet next week to deliberate on the leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the status of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential ticket.
The commission said it would not take any position on the matter until it obtains and examines the certified true copy of the Federal High Court judgment which nullified the leadership of the David Mark-led caretaker committee.
The judgment, delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, also invalidated decisions taken under the committee, including the emergence of Atiku as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking with Sunday Punch, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said the commission would not rely on media reports to determine its next line of action.
“We can’t take a position until we see the judgment 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.
He disclosed that the commission would consider the matter at its meeting next week.
According to him, INEC would also comply with any subsequent court order arising from an appeal by the Mark-led faction, particularly if the court grants an injunction staying the execution of the judgment.
“Obviously, if the David Mark faction should appeal, which I am sure they will, and they get an injunction for stay of execution, obviously, we’ll have to obey that judgment,” he added.
Justice Lifu had, in his ruling, nullified the process through which the Mark-led caretaker committee emerged, declaring it inconsistent with the ADC constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The judgment followed a suit filed by a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the leadership of the ADC.
He consequently 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.
Upholding the suit, the court nullified the caretaker committee’s emergence and the party’s presidential primary that produced Atiku as its flag bearer for the 2027 elections.
It also invalidated Aregbesola’s emergence as National Secretary, the appointments of other national officers and the nominations of candidates presented by the party for the 2027 general elections.
Furthermore, the court directed 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.