🎧
Listen to this article
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted widespread social media claims alleging that it removed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, from its portal following a recent Federal High Court ruling.
Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), confirmed that the commission has neither received a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment nor met to deliberate on the matter.
Speaking in an interview with Weekend Trust on Friday, Haruna dismissed the reports as premature, emphasizing that administrative actions cannot be taken on court decisions that have not been officially served.
“I don’t know where that statement came from. Somebody just forwarded it to me. We haven’t received the judgement yet,” Haruna stated. “Usually, it takes about a week for you to get a CTC of the tribunal.”
Independent verification of the electoral body’s portal on Friday confirmed that the names of Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi remain actively listed as candidates for the 2027 general elections under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The online rumors follow a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which set aside the David Mark-led national executive of the ADC and invalidated the primary election process that produced Atiku and Amaechi.
The suit, filed by former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe, successfully argued that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership failed to satisfy democratic requirements specified under the Electoral Act.
Consequently, the court nullified actions undertaken by the executive committee, including the submission of party candidate nominations to INEC.
The leadership of the African Democratic Congress has strongly rejected the court’s decision, describing it as legally indefensible and confirming plans to lodge an appeal to protect its slate of candidates.
No Comments