The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said the commission will comply with any final court judgment concerning former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Amupitan gave the assurance on Thursday while speaking at Chatham House in London, where he addressed questions about Atiku’s political future following a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) faction led by Senator David Mark.
Atiku emerged as the ADC’s presidential candidate under the disputed leadership structure.
The INEC chairman explained that the commission was constitutionally required to implement judicial decisions, particularly those handed down by the Supreme Court, regardless of the political implications.
“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,” Amupitan stated.
He, however, expressed concern over the growing number of pre-election litigations confronting the electoral commission, warning that the cases could complicate preparations for the January 2027 general election.
According to him, INEC is currently dealing with more than 300 pending court cases, despite the limited time remaining before the polls.
“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 lamented.
Amupitan disclosed that the commission had already commenced procurement of sensitive election materials, noting that prolonged legal disputes and judgments delivered close to election day could disrupt its operational arrangements.
He recalled that when the ADC leadership dispute emerged in April, INEC had advocated an expedited hearing to ensure that the matter was resolved within three weeks.
The commission, he explained, wanted the legal uncertainty settled early enough to enable it to conclude its preparations without disruptions.
However, the dispute remained unresolved at the lower court and has now proceeded to the Court of Appeal following the ADC’s decision to challenge the judgment.
Amupitan called for reforms to the electoral legal framework, proposing that all pre-election disputes should be concluded between six months and one year before an election.
He argued that allowing such cases to linger until shortly before voting creates difficulties for INEC, which often bears the burden of implementing court decisions amid public criticism.
The chairman said the situation could make the commission appear responsible for controversies arising from judicial decisions, even when it is merely complying with the law.
“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.
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