INEC Chairman Amupitan affirms compliance with court rulings

Prof. Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), affirmed that the commission is constitutionally obligated to comply with court rulings concerning the eligibility of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 presidential election. Speaking at Chatham House in London, Amupitan addressed the implications of a recent Federal High Court ruling that nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), under which Atiku is a presidential candidate.

He emphasized that if Atiku fails to overturn the ruling, INEC must enforce the court's decision. Amupitan also expressed concern about the impact of over 300 pending court cases on INEC's logistical preparations for the upcoming January 2027 elections.

He noted that the commission had initiated the procurement of sensitive election materials, making late judicial reversals problematic. To mitigate future electoral disruptions, Amupitan called for reforms to ensure pre-election disputes are resolved at least six months before elections.