The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said the commission will abide by the final court judgment on the eligibility of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Prof. Amupitan said INEC was constitutionally obligated to enforce judicial decisions, regardless of their political implications.
He stated this on Thursday while speaking at Chatham House in London, where he was asked whether Atiku would remain on the ballot if he failed to overturn a Federal High Court judgment nullifying the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), under which he emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.
“If he eventually fails, well, I’m obligated under Section 285 of the Constitution of Nigeria to obey every court order, especially if it is from the Supreme Court,” the INEC chairman said.
However, Amupitan expressed concern over the growing number of pre-election lawsuits confronting the commission, warning that prolonged legal disputes could disrupt its preparations for the January 2027 general elections.
He disclosed that INEC was currently dealing with more than 300 pending court cases, despite having only about 66 days before the scheduled elections.
“Some of those issues we have with court cases—over 300 cases hanging on the neck of INEC, and elections are just about 66 days away,” he said.
The chairman explained that the commission had already commenced procurement of sensitive election materials, noting that last-minute court judgments could create serious logistical challenges.
According to him, when the ADC leadership dispute emerged in April, INEC had pushed for an accelerated hearing to ensure the matter was resolved within three weeks, giving the commission sufficient time to plan its electoral activities.
He said the case, however, had dragged on and was now heading to the Court of Appeal following the ADC’s decision to challenge the Federal High Court judgment.
Prof. Amupitan consequently called for electoral reforms that would ensure all pre-election disputes were resolved at least six months to one year before Election Day.
He warned that late court decisions often place INEC in a difficult position, exposing the commission to public criticism when it is required to implement judicial orders.
“The danger is that whenever there is such a decision, and it’s up to you to now implement it, you become the problem. The problem now is transferred unto you,” he said.
(Daily Trust)
