The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will only make a decision on whether Atiku Abubakar will be on the 2027 Presidential ballot after it meets next week to consider the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and their decisions.
The commission said it would not take a position on the matter until it obtains and studies the certified true copy of the judgment.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this in an interview with the PUNCH.
“We can’t take a position until we see the judgment ourselves.
"We have to get the certified true copy because we don’t take decisions or reports of what the court said based on reports because the reports could be wrong,” he said.
Haruna added that the commission would discuss the matter at its next meeting.
“We are all here till next week when the commission meets.
"We will have to meet over it,” he said.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had on Thursday nullified the caretaker committee led by former Senate President David Mark.
The court also invalidated decisions taken by the committee, including the presidential primary that produced Atiku as the party's candidate.
The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC deputy national chairman, who challenged the process that brought Mark's leadership into office.
Atiku has rejected the ruling and insisted that he remains in the presidential race, while the Mark-led faction has indicated plans to appeal.
Haruna said INEC would obey any further court order granting a stay of execution.
“Obviously, if the David Mark faction should appeal, which I am sure they will, and they get an injunction for stay of execution, obviously, we’ll have to obey that judgment,” he added.
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