The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it is awaiting the Certified True Copy of a Federal High Court judgment affecting the leadership of the African Democratic Congress and the political future of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar before determining its next course of action.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the commission would not rely on information circulating on social media to make decisions on the matter, stressing the need to obtain and examine the authentic court documents.
Speaking on the development, Amupitan explained that the commission would study the judgment and accompanying legal processes to establish their implications before taking any official position.
“We don’t just act on the basis of what was posted on social media. Normally, when we receive a judgment like that, it comes with the relevant documents, including the Certified True Copy,” he said.
He maintained that INEC had yet to receive the certified judgment and would only determine its position after reviewing the relevant documents.
The development comes amid political uncertainty surrounding the ADC leadership and Atiku’s possible participation in the 2027 presidential election.
AMUPITAN YET TO RECEIVE SUBPOENA IN SOWORE’S TRIAL
Meanwhile, the INEC chairman has disclosed that he is yet to receive the subpoena issued by a Federal High Court in Abuja, directing him to produce electoral documents relating to President Bola Tinubu’s 1999 Lagos State governorship election and the 2023 presidential election.
The subpoena is connected to the ongoing criminal trial of human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, over his description of Tinubu as a criminal.
The court reportedly directed Amupitan to produce relevant electoral records, including Tinubu’s Form CF001 submitted during the 1999 governorship election and documents relating to the 2023 presidential election.
Reacting, the INEC chairman said he would examine the court’s directive upon receiving it and determine the appropriate steps to take.
“I have not received the order. So when I receive the order, I would look at what it says and then know what to do accordingly,” he stated.
INEC CHAIRMAN BACKS EARLY VOTING FOR JOURNALISTS, ELECTORAL OFFICIALS
On the proposal to introduce early voting for journalists and electoral officials who are engaged in election duties, Amupitan expressed support for the idea but noted that the arrangement was not provided for under the existing electoral law.
He explained that previous efforts to incorporate the proposal into amendments to the Electoral Act had failed to secure the necessary backing of the National Assembly.
However, the INEC chairman supported continued calls for legislative consideration of the proposal, arguing that journalists and electoral personnel should not be deprived of the opportunity to exercise their voting rights because of their official responsibilities on election days.
