INEC Yet To Receive CTC Of Judgment Nullifying Atiku’s ADC Candidacy

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it has yet to receive the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Federal High Court judgment that nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by former Senate President David Mark, and invalidated the nominations of candidates produced under its leadership.

The commission said it had consequently not deliberated on the implications of the judgment or taken any decision on the matter.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this to reporters in Abuja on Friday, dismissing reports that the commission had removed former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, from its portal.

Haruna said the commission could not be expected to act on a judgment it had not officially received.

“I don’t know where that statement came from. Somebody just forwarded it to me. We haven’t received the judgment yet,” he said.

He explained that obtaining a Certified True Copy of a court judgment takes time, noting that it usually takes about a week to obtain such a document from a tribunal.

A check on INEC’s portal on Friday showed that Atiku and Amaechi were still listed as the ADC’s presidential candidate and running mate for the 2027 general election.

The clarification followed Thursday’s judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which nullified the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC and invalidated decisions taken by the disputed leadership, including the process that produced the party’s candidates for the 2027 elections.

The judgment followed a suit instituted by a former Deputy National Chairman of the party for the North-East, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the emergence of the Mark-led leadership.

The court held that the process by which the leadership emerged did not comply with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and, consequently, nullified its actions.

However, the ADC has rejected the judgment and announced it will appeal the decision.

The party also disclosed that it had filed an application for a stay of execution pending the hearing and determination of the appeal, urging INEC to exercise restraint and avoid taking any action that could prejudice the outcome of the legal proceedings.

The party said it had formally notified the commission of the appeal and its application for a stay of execution.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has equally rejected the judgment and vowed to challenge it, insisting that his presidential ambition remains on course.