The Independent National Electoral Commission announced it will withhold comment on the African Democratic Congress’s leadership crisis until it receives and reviews a certified true copy of the Federal High Court judgment that nullified the David Mark-led leadership.
INEC’s position follows Thursday’s Federal High Court ruling in Abuja, which set aside the caretaker committee headed by Mark and invalidated all actions taken during its tenure, including the selection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s candidate for the 2027 presidency.
Speaking with Sunday Punch, Mohammed Haruna, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee—stated that the commission’s immediate priority following the ruling is to obtain a certified true copy of the judgment before determining its next steps.
He said, “We can’t take a position until we see tthe judgement 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 added that the matter will be deliberated during the commission’s upcoming meeting the following week.
“Well, this one is very straightforward even then, we are all here till next week when the commission meets. We will have to meet over it,” he added.
Furthermore, he confirmed that the electoral body will comply with any subsequent court orders stemming from an appeal by the Mark-led faction.
Read Also: Atiku Abubakar Breaks Silence, Says No Court Ruling Can Keep Him off 2027 ballot
Backstory…
Recall that on Thursday, Federal High Court Justice Peter Lifu ruled that the establishment of the Mark-led caretaker committee violated the African Democratic Congress’s constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, and the 1999 Constitution, thereby invalidating its leadership.
The judgment followed a lawsuit filed under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman for the North-East, who challenged the legal process through which Mark and the committee assumed control of the party.
Gombe contended in his suit that he possessed the constitutional right to take over the party’s leadership following the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.
Consequently, he petitioned the court to void the actions of the Mark-led administration and restrain both Mark and former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola from holding themselves out as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
Justice Lifu sustained the suit, setting aside the process that established the caretaker committee and invalidated the presidential primary that produced Atiku as the 2027 nominee.
The court also ruled that Aregbesola’s appointment as National Secretary, the selection of other national officers, and the party’s slate of candidates for the 2027 general elections were unconstitutional.
Furthermore, the judiciary directed INEC to withhold recognition from or implementation of any resolutions passed during the ADC’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
Read Also: fresh turmoil as Court nullifies Atiku’s candidacy, sacks all ADC candidates
