The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to deliberate on the leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at its meeting next week, following a Federal High Court judgment that invalidated the party’s caretaker leadership structure and decisions, including the presidential primary that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The commission, however, has maintained that it will not take any official position on the matter until it obtains and carefully examines the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court judgment.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this on Sunday, stressing that the commission would not base its decisions on media reports or interpretations of the court’s ruling.
According to Haruna, INEC must first obtain the official judgment to establish precisely what the court decided before determining its next course of action.
“We can’t take a position until we see the judgment 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,” he said.
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He further confirmed that the commission would consider the matter at its next meeting, scheduled for the coming 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,” Haruna added.
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INEC May Comply With Further Court Orders
The INEC commissioner also indicated that the commission would respect any subsequent court directive arising from the ongoing legal battle, particularly if the faction led by former Senate President David Mark appeals the judgment and secures an order staying its execution.
He explained that should such an order be granted, the commission would be legally bound to comply.
“Obviously, if the David Mark faction should appeal, which I am sure they will, and they get an injunction for stay of execution, obviously, we’ll have to obey that judgment,” he stated.
The clarification suggests that INEC’s eventual position on the ADC leadership dispute could depend not only on its examination of the judgment but also on any further legal developments.
Court Nullifies David Mark-Led Caretaker Committee
The development follows a ruling delivered last Thursday by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which nullified the caretaker committee led by former Senate President David Mark.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment, ruled that the emergence of the caretaker committee violated provisions of the ADC constitution, relevant sections of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
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The court also invalidated decisions taken by the committee, including the party’s presidential primary that produced Atiku Abubakar as its flag bearer for the 2027 presidential election.
In addition, the judgment nullified the emergence of former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s National Secretary, as well as the appointments of other national officers and the nomination of candidates presented by the party for the forthcoming general elections.
The court further directed INEC not to recognise or act on decisions taken at the ADC’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
How the ADC Leadership Crisis Started
The legal battle was initiated by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), who approached the court to challenge the process through which David Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to assume the leadership position in accordance with the party’s internal regulations.
His legal challenge questioned the legitimacy of the caretaker arrangement and the decisions subsequently taken by the committee.
What the Judgment Means for Atiku and the 2027 Elections
The judgment has introduced fresh uncertainty into the ADC’s political future and the position of Atiku Abubakar, whose emergence as the party’s presidential candidate has now been affected by the court’s decision.
With the presidential primary and other major decisions of the caretaker committee reportedly nullified, the party faces significant legal and organisational questions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, INEC’s decision to await the Certified True Copy of the judgment means that the commission’s official position remains pending.
The possibility of an appeal and an application for a stay of execution by the David Mark-led faction could further shape the direction of the dispute.
All eyes will therefore be on INEC’s meeting next week, as its deliberations could provide greater clarity on the recognition of the ADC’s leadership and the status of decisions taken under the disputed caretaker committee.
Until then, the political and legal uncertainty surrounding the ADC remains unresolved.
