The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said the commission will abide by the court\u2019s decision on whether former Vice President Atiku Abubakar can contest the 2027 presidential election under the African Democratic Congress.\n<\/p>\n
Amupitan said INEC was constitutionally obligated to obey court orders, particularly those issued by the Supreme Court, regardless of the public reaction to such decisions.\n<\/p>\n
He spoke on Thursday during a dialogue at Chatham House in London, organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative, with the theme, \u201cNigeria\u2019s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Responding to a question on whether Atiku could contest on the ADC platform if the court ruling nullifying the leadership of the faction led by former Senate President David Mark remained in force, Amupitan said, \u201cIf he eventually fails, well, I\u2019m obligated under Section 285 of the Constitution of Nigeria to obey every court order, especially if it is from the Supreme Court.\u201d<\/p>\n
The INEC chairman said the commission had pushed for an accelerated hearing when the ADC leadership dispute emerged in April to avoid complications in preparations for the 2027 elections.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it happened in April, the position of the commission was that the matter should be resolved within three weeks,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n
He explained that INEC had complied with a court directive to suspend action and await the outcome of the case, which subsequently went on appeal.<\/p>\n
Amupitan, however, lamented the growing number of election-related litigation, saying the commission had more than 300 cases pending against it, with the 2027 elections approaching.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome 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,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n
He disclosed that the commission had commenced procurement of sensitive election materials for the 2027 polls, urging reforms to ensure that pre-election disputes were resolved six months to one year before voting.\n<\/p>\n
According to him, early resolution of such disputes would give INEC sufficient time to conclude its logistical arrangements. <\/p>\n
Amupitan also acknowledged that the commission could face public criticism for implementing court decisions, despite being legally bound to obey them.\n<\/p>\n
The comments come amid the protracted leadership crisis in the ADC, which has thrown the party\u2019s preparations for the 2027 elections into uncertainty.\n<\/p>\n