INEC Chairman Confirms Court Ruling Will Affect Atiku's Candidacy

Joash Amupitan, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), confirmed that the commission would be bound by any final court ruling concerning Atiku Abubakar's candidacy for the 2027 presidential election. This statement was made during an event at Chatham House on November 12, 2026, in response to questions about Atiku's eligibility following a legal challenge.

The controversy stems from a ruling on November 5, 2026, by a court in Abuja that nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by David Mark, and invalidated the party's presidential primary that selected Atiku as its candidate. The lawsuit was initiated by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former national deputy chairman of the ADC, who contested the leadership structure and the candidacy process.

Atiku's legal team, represented by Kalu Kalu, argued that the court's ruling did not explicitly invalidate Atiku's candidacy. Amupitan emphasized that INEC's actions would depend on the decisions of the superior courts, particularly if the case escalates to the Supreme Court.