Politics
What Will Happen to Atiku’s 2027 Presidential Bid If He Loses Court Battle? Amupitan Speaks
What Will Happen to Atiku’s 2027 Presidential Bid If He Loses Court Battle? Amupitan Speaks
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has declared that the commission will abide by the final court decision regarding 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 during a policy dialogue on Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The event, organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative, was themed, “Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot.”
Responding to a question about whether Atiku would remain eligible to contest if he failed to overturn the Federal High Court judgment affecting the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the INEC chairman said the commission had no option but to comply with lawful court decisions.
“If it travels through the courts and, as you said, 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 acknowledged that implementing politically sensitive judicial decisions could expose INEC to public criticism, even when the commission was simply carrying out its legal responsibilities.
“The danger is that whenever there’s such a decision and it’s you who now has to implement it, you become the problem. The problem now is transferred to you, but that is the position of the law,” he added.
The development comes amid growing uncertainty surrounding Atiku’s presidential ambition under the ADC following a Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu in Abuja on November 5.
The court nullified the leadership arrangement of the ADC faction led by former Senate President David Mark and set aside decisions taken by the disputed leadership structure, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.
The judgment followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC deputy national chairman, who challenged the party’s leadership arrangement.
However, the ADC has rejected the judgment and initiated legal proceedings to challenge it at the Court of Appeal. Atiku has also maintained that he remains in the 2027 presidential race.
Meanwhile, Amupitan disclosed that INEC was currently dealing with more than 300 court cases as preparations for the 2027 general elections gathered momentum.
He expressed concern that prolonged pre-election litigation could disrupt the commission’s preparations, particularly its procurement of sensitive election materials and other logistical arrangements.
The INEC chairman called for reforms to ensure that pre-election disputes were resolved at least six months to one year before general elections.
According to him, early resolution of such cases would give the electoral commission sufficient time to concentrate on election preparations rather than being caught up in prolonged legal battles.
He stressed that the commission had already commenced procurement processes for sensitive election materials, making timely resolution of outstanding disputes particularly important.
Amupitan’s remarks indicate that INEC will allow the judicial process to determine the fate of Atiku’s ADC presidential ticket, with the commission pledging to implement the final decision of the competent courts.
What Will Happen to Atiku’s 2027 Presidential Bid If He Loses Court Battle? Amupitan Speaks
Politics
Court Orders INEC to Publish Adebutu as Ogun PDP Governorship Candidate Within 24 Hours
Court Orders INEC to Publish Adebutu as Ogun PDP Governorship Candidate Within 24 Hours
ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reinstate and publish the name of Oladipupo Adebutu as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Ogun State within 24 hours.
The court, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, directed INEC to correct its previously published list of candidates following a legal dispute over the exclusion of Adebutu’s name.
The ruling represents a major development in the political battle over the PDP’s governorship ticket in Ogun State.
The dispute arose after INEC left Adebutu’s name off its list of candidates for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election, citing alleged discrepancies in the PDP membership register submitted to the commission.
INEC had maintained that its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department could not find Adebutu’s name in the register, although the name of the party’s deputy governorship candidate, Kolapo Lateefat Oyeyemi, was reportedly found.
However, the PDP challenged the commission’s position, insisting that Adebutu’s name was included in the electronic list of candidates submitted through a flash drive.
The party’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, testified that the PDP complied with the submission requirements and disputed the flash drive presented by INEC during the proceedings.
The electoral commission, through its witness, Mustapha Mohammed, maintained that Adebutu’s name was absent from the records submitted to it.
In its judgment, Justice Lifu held that INEC lacked the authority to remove a candidate sponsored by a political party without a court order.
The court further ruled that the PDP had established that Adebutu was a registered member of the party in Ogun State.
It also questioned INEC’s authority over the party’s membership register and faulted the commission for failing to establish that the flash drive submitted by the PDP had been altered.
Consequently, the judge directed INEC to immediately restore Adebutu’s name to the list of candidates and publish it within 24 hours.
The judgment clears a major legal hurdle for Adebutu’s participation in the 2027 Ogun governorship election under the PDP platform.
Court Orders INEC to Publish Adebutu as Ogun PDP Governorship Candidate Within 24 Hours
Politics
2027 Election: Atiku’s ADC Candidacy Hangs in Balance as Court Ruling Remains in Force
The political future of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 presidential election remains uncertain following a Federal High Court judgment that invalidated the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) faction led by David Mark and decisions taken under its authority.
The development has placed the ADC’s leadership structure and its preparations for the 2027 general election under fresh legal scrutiny, although the party has moved to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, delivered the judgment on November 5, 2026, in a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe over the leadership crisis within the opposition party.
The court set aside the leadership arrangement involving the David Mark-led faction and decisions taken under it, including those connected with the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
The ruling has raised questions about the status of decisions made by the affected leadership, particularly the process through which Atiku emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.
However, the precise implication of the judgment for Atiku’s candidacy has become a subject of legal disagreement within the party.
Following the judgment, the ADC rejected the decision and filed a notice of appeal on November 6, 2026, seeking to overturn the ruling.
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The party also filed an application at the Federal High Court for a stay of execution, asking the court to suspend the implementation of the judgment pending the determination of its appeal.
As of November 13, 2026, the application for a stay of execution had not been heard or granted. This means that the filing of the appeal, by itself, has not suspended the judgment of the Federal High Court.
The distinction is significant because an appeal does not automatically stop the enforcement of a court judgment. A specific order granting a stay or a subsequent decision setting aside the judgment would be required to alter its immediate legal effect.
Meanwhile, the ADC has disputed suggestions that the judgment expressly cancelled Atiku’s presidential nomination.
The party’s lawyer, Kalu Kalu, argued on November 12 that Justice Lifu did not specifically make an order nullifying Atiku’s candidacy. He maintained that the court’s decision should be interpreted strictly according to the orders contained in the judgment.
The argument represents the ADC’s interpretation of the ruling and has not, by itself, altered the judgment or resolved the legal questions surrounding the party’s leadership and nomination process.
The controversy has placed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a delicate position as political parties prepare for the 2027 general election.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, has said the commission will comply with any final court decision concerning Atiku’s eligibility and the ADC leadership dispute.
Amupitan’s position indicates that the electoral commission intends to allow the judicial process to determine the legal implications of the dispute rather than take a position ahead of the courts.
The commission’s eventual action will therefore depend on the relevant court orders and the outcome of the pending legal proceedings.
For now, the November 5 Federal High Court judgment remains operative because the ADC’s application for a stay had not been granted as of November 13. At the same time, the party’s appeal leaves room for a higher court to review the decision.
The dispute is another major challenge for the ADC as it seeks to consolidate its position as an opposition platform ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku’s participation in the election will ultimately depend on the outcome of the legal proceedings and the interpretation of any final court orders affecting the party’s leadership and nomination process.
Until the Court of Appeal or another competent court makes a decision capable of changing the present position, neither the filing of the appeal nor the ADC lawyer’s interpretation should be treated as a final judicial determination of Atiku’s eligibility.
2027 Election: Atiku’s ADC Candidacy Hangs in Balance as Court Ruling Remains in Force
Politics
BREAKING: Armed Thugs Storm NDC Town Hall Meeting in Lagos, Several Injured
BREAKING: Armed Thugs Storm NDC Town Hall Meeting in Lagos, Several Injured
LAGOS, Nigeria – Several people have reportedly sustained injuries after suspected political thugs disrupted a town hall meeting organised by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Oregun area of Lagos State on Thursday.
The incident reportedly triggered panic as armed youths stormed the venue of the gathering, wielding sticks, clubs and other dangerous weapons.
The town hall meeting was organised by the party as part of its engagement with constituents but was reportedly disrupted when the suspected attackers invaded the venue, forcing participants to flee for safety.
Images circulating on social media showed a chaotic scene, with several young men brandishing wooden sticks and other objects. One of the photographs showed a man wearing a red polo shirt holding a long wooden stick, while others stood behind him with similar weapons and placards.
Eyewitnesses said the attack sparked confusion and a stampede as attendees scrambled to escape from the venue.
“We were gathered for the town hall meeting when suddenly these thugs arrived with sticks and cutlasses. Everyone had to run for their lives,” a witness told Newstrends.ng.
The witness added that several people sustained injuries during the incident, while some property was reportedly damaged.
Although the circumstances surrounding the attack remain unclear, the incident has raised concerns about the safety of political gatherings and the potential for violence during political activities in Lagos State.
As of the time of filing this report, the Lagos State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement confirming the incident, the number of casualties or whether any suspects had been arrested.
Meanwhile, the NDC has condemned the disruption, calling on security agencies to investigate the incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
The party also reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful political engagement despite the reported attack.
BREAKING: Armed Thugs Storm NDC Town Hall Meeting in Lagos, Several Injured
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