INEC rejects reports of removing Atiku, Amaechi from 2027 candidates list

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has not received the Certified True Copy of the Federal High Court judgment affecting the David Mark-led ADC leadership and the party’s primary nominations.

Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC national commissioner and chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), said the commission was yet to receive a copy of the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja and had not deliberated on its implications, dismissing social media reports claiming that it had already implemented the court’s decision.

The clarification followed reports circulating on social media that the electoral body had removed the names of Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi from its portal after Thursday’s ruling. However, checks of the commission ‘s ports on Friday revealed that both names remained listed, contradicting the claims.

Questioning the origin of the reports, Haruna said INEC had not received any official copy of the judgment.

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

The national commissioner explained that obtaining a Certified True Copy (CTC) of a court judgment, takes time, noting that the commission could not be expected to act on a ruling it had not officially received.

“Usually, it takes about a week for you to get a CTC of the tribunal”, Haruna said.

He indicated that INEC had yet to convene a meeting to consider the ruling, stressing that the commission had not taken any decision on the matter.

The clarification comes after Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the leadership of the ADC led by former Senate President David Mark and invalidated the party’s actions, including the process that produced Atiku and its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The ruling followed a suit filed by former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala-Gombe, who challenged the emergence of the Mark-led leadership.

The court held that the process through which the leadership emerged failed to meet the requirements for democratic elections under the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.

INEC’s position leaves questions about the formal implementation of the judgment and its implications for Atiku and other ADC aspirants.

-9News Nigeria