The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, says the commission will abide by the court’s decision on whether former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar can contest the 2027 presidential election.
Amupitan spoke on Thursday, November 12, at Chatham House in London. He was asked whether Atiku could stand as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate if a court ruling nullifying the leadership of the party faction led by former Senate President David Mark remained in force.
“If he eventually fails, well, I’m obligated under Section 285 of the Constitution of Nigeria to obey every court order, especially if it is from the Supreme Court,” he said. The Federal High Court ruling has raised questions about the validity of Atiku’s nomination as the ADC’s presidential candidate. The party has said it will challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
Amupitan said INEC had pressed for an accelerated hearing when the leadership dispute arose in April, arguing that an early decision would give the commission time to plan for the elections. “When it happened in April, the position of the commission was that matter should be resolved within three weeks,” he said.
He said INEC had followed a court directive to suspend action and await the outcome of the case, which later went to appeal. He also said the commission had more than 300 cases pending against it. Recalling the pressure litigation can put on election preparations, he referred to a point when an election was about 66 days away.
“Some of those issues we have with court cases, over 300 cases hanging on the neck of INEC, and elections is just about 66 days away,” he said.
Amupitan said INEC had already begun procuring sensitive election materials for the 2027 polls. He called for reforms to ensure pre-election disputes are resolved six months to a year before voting so the commission has enough time to finalise its logistics.
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