The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said the commission will comply with any final court judgment on the eligibility of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to contest the 2027 presidential election, including removing him from the ballot if required.
Amupitan made this known on Thursday while speaking at Chatham House in London, where he addressed concerns over the implications of the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), under which Atiku emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.
Responding to a question on whether Atiku would remain on the ballot if he failed to overturn the ruling, the INEC chairman said the commission was constitutionally obligated to obey court orders.
“If he fails, I’m obligated to obey every court order, especially if it’s from the Supreme Court.
“The danger is that whether there is such a decision and it is up to you to implement, you become the problem. The problem is transferred to you, but that is the position of the law,” he said.
Amupitan, however, expressed concern over the growing number of pre-election lawsuits involving the commission, disclosing that INEC was facing more than 300 pending court cases with about 66 days remaining before the 2027 general election.
“Over 300 court cases hanging on the neck of INEC, and the election is just about 66 days away,” he lamented.
He explained that the volume of litigation was creating challenges for the commission, particularly as preparations for the January 2027 elections, including the procurement of sensitive materials, were already underway.
According to him, when the ADC leadership dispute first emerged in April, INEC pushed for an accelerated hearing to ensure the matter was resolved within three weeks, allowing the commission to finalise its electoral arrangements.
However, the case was prolonged and is now before the Court of Appeal following the ADC’s decision to challenge the Federal High Court judgment.
To address the challenges posed by prolonged pre-election disputes, Amupitan advocated electoral reforms that would require such cases to be concluded at least six months to one year before election day.
He warned that last-minute judicial decisions often place INEC in a difficult position, exposing the commission to public criticism when it is required to implement court orders.
“The danger is that whenever there is such a decision, and it’s up to you to now implement it, you become the problem. The problem now is transferred unto you,” he said.
Recall that the Federal High Court judgment delivered on November 5, 2026, nullified the leadership of the ADC led by Senator David Mark, raising questions over the party’s leadership and Atiku’s candidacy.
The ADC leadership under Mark has, however, vowed to pursue its appeal to ensure that Atiku remains on the ballot in the 2027 presidential election.
