The Independent National Electoral Commission has cleared former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and 470 other candidates submitted by the David Mark-led African Democratic Congress leadership for the 2027 general elections, following a Supreme Court judgment affirming Mark’s faction as the legitimate party leadership.
INEC has made its choice in the ADC leadership battle — and it’s firmly in David Mark’s corner.
The Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday cleared former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and 470 other candidates presented by the Mark-led African Democratic Congress for the 2027 general elections, citing the Supreme Court judgment affirming Mark’s faction as the party’s legitimate leadership.
Daily Post reports that INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna confirmed the development, stating that the commission granted Mark’s faction access to its candidate nomination portal on the strength of the apex court’s ruling — and that only candidates submitted through that faction would be recognised.
“Yes, we gave the Mark-led faction the code based on the recent Supreme Court judgment that affirmed his leadership of the party and the faction has since submitted most of its candidates for a total of 471 — presidential (1), senatorial (109) and House of Representatives (360) constituencies,” Haruna said.
The cleared presidential candidate is Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Vice President and perennial presidential contender, who is now officially on course to contest the 2027 presidential election under the ADC platform — his latest political vehicle after several bids under different parties.
Haruna was equally clear about the rival faction’s fate. “The court did not say we should accept any submissions by the rival faction which, in any case, had lost its appeal for recognition,” he stated.
On Monday’s Court of Appeal judgment — which has added fresh legal complexity to the leadership dispute — Haruna said INEC would await the Certified True Copy before taking a formal position.
“INEC cannot say anything until we see the judgment. We have to see the details of the judgment first. Hopefully, within 48 hours, the court should release the judgment. We will study it, and then the commission will take a position,” he said.
The ADC’s rival faction has not yet publicly responded to INEC’s position following Monday’s appellate court ruling.
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