INEC To Review ADC Case After CTC Receipt

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will review the judgment of the Federal High Court nullifying the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following the receipt of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this on Wednesday.
Haruna said the commission’s legal department would examine the judgment and provide advice before a committee chaired by a national commissioner makes recommendations to the full commission for a final decision.

He stressed that INEC would not act on media reports or interpretations of the ruling without first studying the official court document.

The judgment, delivered on November 5 by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, nullified the emergence of the Senator David Mark-led ADC leadership and invalidated decisions taken under it, including the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

The suit was instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, who challenged the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership.

The ADC has rejected the judgment and challenged it at the Court of Appeal, filing an appeal and an application for a stay of execution. The party has urged INEC not to take consequential action while the appeal remains pending.

Meanwhile, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council has confirmed receiving the certified copy of the judgment but expressed concern over the timing of its release, arguing that it leaves the party with limited time to study the ruling and pursue further legal remedies.
Haruna said the commission would carefully consider the court’s decision and comply with any subsequent order issued by a competent court.