INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has reportedly warned that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar may not appear on the 2027 presidential ballot if the legal dispute over the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is not resolved in his favour.
Speaking on Thursday, November 12, 2026, during an engagement at Chatham House in London, Amupitan explained that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was legally bound to respect court decisions, particularly rulings from the Supreme Court.
The controversy follows a November 5 judgment by the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, which nullified the leadership structure of the ADC faction led by former Senate President David Mark. The court also invalidated decisions taken under the leadership, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.
The suit was instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman, who challenged the process through which the Mark-led leadership emerged.
However, the ADC has rejected the judgment and vowed to challenge it at the Court of Appeal, while Atiku has maintained his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Amupitan also disclosed that INEC was handling more than 300 election-related court cases, warning that prolonged legal disputes could affect the commission’s preparations for the forthcoming elections.
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