The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that it has removed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, from its candidates’ portal following a court judgment nullifying their nomination by the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, clarified that the commission had not received an official copy of the Federal High Court judgment and had not taken any decision regarding the matter.
Haruna made the clarification during a telephone interview with Weekend Trust on Friday, November 6, 2026, following widespread claims that INEC had already implemented the court's ruling by deleting the names of Atiku and Amaechi from its portal.
A check of the commission's portal on Friday showed that both politicians' names were still listed, contrary to the reports circulating online.
Questioning the source of the reports, Haruna said INEC could not act on a judgment it had not officially received.
He explained that obtaining a Certified True Copy (CTC) of a court judgment could take about a week, stressing that the commission had yet to deliberate on the ruling.
The clarification followed Thursday's judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which nullified the leadership of the ADC faction led by former Senate President David Mark.
The court also invalidated decisions taken by the disputed leadership, including the process through which Atiku Abubakar emerged as the party's presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The judgment arose from a lawsuit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman for the North-East, who challenged the emergence of the David Mark-led leadership.
The court ruled that the process through which the disputed leadership emerged did not comply with the requirements for democratic elections under relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
Consequently, it nullified the actions taken by the leadership, including the nomination of candidates submitted to INEC for the 2027 elections.
Reacting to the judgment, the ADC rejected the ruling, describing it as legally indefensible. The party also announced its intention to challenge the decision in court.
INEC's latest clarification indicates that no changes have been made to Atiku and Amaechi's status on its portal as of Friday, pending the commission's receipt and consideration of the official court judgment.
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