2027 Election Shake-Up: INEC Breaks Silence On Atiku Fate, Vows To Obey Any Court Ruling

2027 Election Shake-Up: INEC Breaks Silence On Atiku Fate, Vows To Obey Any Court Ruling

The fate of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 presidential race is now firmly in the hands of the courts, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will not fight whatever the judiciary decides.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, made the position clear on Thursday during a session at Chatham House in London, where he was asked directly if Atiku could still stand for election if he loses the legal battle over the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Amupitan Says Constitution Compels INEC To Obey Courts

Amupitan said INEC has no choice in the matter, stressing that the Constitution compels the Commission to obey every court order, especially rulings from the Supreme Court, no matter who is affected.

He explained that the Commission cannot pick and choose which judgment to respect, even when the political stakes are very high.

If he eventually fails, well, I am obligated under Section 285 of the Constitution of Nigeria to obey every court order, especially if it is from the Supreme Court, Amupitan said.

INEC Burdened By Over 300 Court Cases As 2027 Polls Draw Near

Beyond the Atiku matter, Amupitan raised alarm over the heavy litigation burden weighing on INEC as the country moves closer to the 2027 general election.

He revealed that more than 300 cases are currently pending against the Commission, warning that endless court battles could slow down preparations and disrupt logistics.

Some of those issues we have with court cases, over 300 cases hanging on the neck of INEC, and election is just about 66 days away, he lamented.

No Action On Social Media Gossip, INEC Awaiting Certified Judgment

The INEC boss also dismissed the rush to draw conclusions from social media posts and media headlines, saying INEC will only act after studying the official court document.

According to him, the Commission must first receive the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment, read it line by line, and take legal advice before making any pronouncement on Atiku or the ADC.

As of today, I have not received a certified true copy of the judgment of the Federal High Court because we don’t just act on the basis of what is on social media, he said.

How ADC Leadership Crisis Put Atiku Candidacy In Doubt

The controversy began with a judgment delivered on November 5 by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which sacked the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC.

The court also nullified all decisions taken under that leadership, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate for 2027.

The case was instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, who challenged how Mark became national chairman after the former leadership resigned in July 2025.

ADC Heads To Appeal Court, Insists Atiku Still In Race

Despite the judgment, the ADC says it will appeal to the Court of Appeal, insisting the battle is far from over.

The party’s lawyer, Kalu Kalu, argued that the judgment did not expressly cancel Atiku’s candidacy, while Atiku himself has vowed to stay in the presidential race and fight the ruling to the end.

For now, all eyes are on the Appeal Court, and on INEC, which says it will simply follow the law wherever it leads.

Will Atiku survive this legal storm and stay on the 2027 ballot, or will the court ruling end his presidential ambition? Share your view in the comments and share this story so more Nigerians can follow the twist.