The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will convene next week at its national headquarters in Abuja to deliberate on the legal and political ramifications of the recent Federal High Court judgment that sacked the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and nullified former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential nomination.
The ruling, delivered on Thursday, November 5, 2026, by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, invalidated the Mark-led caretaker committee and voided all executive actions taken under its authority.
The court judgment followed a legal challenge instituted by aggrieved former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who contested the legitimacy of the caretaker leadership.
Clarifying the electoral umpire’s official stance on Friday, November 6, 2026, the National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee at INEC, Sam Olumekun (with additional clarifications noted by commissioner Haruna Mohammed), confirmed that the commission has scheduled a formal meeting for next week.
Addressing press queries at the INEC Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, officials noted that the commission must first obtain and examine a Certified True Copy (CTC) of Justice Lifu’s judgment before taking any statutory decision.
”The Commission operates strictly within the framework of the law and existing judicial pronouncements,” an INEC official stated. “We cannot act on media reports or unverified documents. Once our legal department receives and reviews the official court judgment next week, the Commission will meet formally to determine the next administrative steps regarding the ADC’s leadership status and candidate listings for the 2027 general elections.”
In a swift counter-reaction on Saturday, November 7, 2026, the ADC leadership confirmed that it had officially filed an appeal challenging Justice Lifu’s judgment at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
Speaking to newsmen on Saturday at 2:00 PM at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Special Adviser on Media to Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, confirmed that a notice of appeal and an injunction restraining the execution of the High Court order had been lodged.
Shaibu cautioned INEC against taking pre-emptive administrative measures while the appellate process is underway.
”The ADC is exercising its constitutional right to appeal. The judgment is now sub-judice before a higher court, and the legal process must be allowed to run its full course,” Shaibu declared. “We have formally notified INEC of the pending appeal. Our political activities, structures under Senator David Mark, and His Excellency Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign remain fully active and uninterrupted.”
The court’s decision has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, as the nullification directly impacts the ADC’s preparations to field candidates in the upcoming 2027 general elections.
INEC’s upcoming commission meeting next week will decide whether the commission will temporarily delist the party’s executive nominations pending the outcome of the Court of Appeal proceedings or maintain status quo until final judicial determination.
