INEC Issues Update On ADC Leadership Crisis

The commission said it is yet to receive the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court judgement that nullified the party’s National Working Committee led by Senator David Mark.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Wednesday.

Haruna told Daily Trust that as of Tuesday night, the commission had only received the ADC’s appeal against the ruling and its application for a stay of execution.

He explained that the certified copy of the judgement, which would help the commission consider the matter, was yet to reach its office.

“I’m not aware we received the CTC. We still haven’t received it,” Haruna said.

“What we had received was the appeal by ADC and the application for a stay. I think those ones were received. But as for the certified true copy of the judgement, we still haven’t received it.”

Asked when INEC would take a position on the dispute after receiving the court document, Haruna said the matter would have to be discussed at a meeting of the commission.

He explained that INEC’s chairman was currently away on official duty and was expected to return on Sunday.

According to him, the commission usually meets on Thursdays, although meetings are sometimes held on Tuesdays.

Haruna said the expected return of the chairman could allow the commission to meet on Tuesday or Thursday next week.

“As soon as he’s back, I’m sure we’ll probably hold a meeting,” he said.

When asked if Tuesday was a possible date, he replied, “Possibly even Tuesday. Because I think he should be back before then.”

However, the national commissioner cautioned that no definite date had been fixed for the meeting or a final decision on the ADC crisis.

Meanwhile, members of the Forum of ADC Candidates and United Friends for Atiku (UFFA) have petitioned the United States Embassy and the United Nations over what they described as alleged bias in the judiciary.

The group also protested at the Federal High Court in Abuja over the delay in releasing the Certified True Copy of the judgement nullifying the National Working Committee led by David Mark.

In a protest letter dated November 10, 2026, the group said it disagreed with the ruling delivered on November 5 but had decided to challenge it through lawful means.

Speaking at the court premises, the group’s coordinator, Audu Aliyu, said the party remained committed to pursuing its grievances through legal and constitutional channels.

Aliyu explained that the party’s lawyers applied for the certified copy of the judgement immediately after it was delivered and also made the required payment.

However, he alleged that despite several visits to the court registry, the document had not been released as of Tuesday morning.

He further accused some individuals of putting pressure on INEC to act on a judgement that had allegedly not been made available to the affected party.

“How can a judgement that has not been made available to the affected party be available to some people, to allegedly pressure INEC into taking action?” he asked.

The group argued that keeping the judgement away from the affected party while allegedly using it to influence INEC could undermine its constitutional right to appeal.

In the petition, the group warned that delays in the administration of justice could pose a threat to democracy.

“Democracy does not die only through military coups. It can also be undermined through administrative delays and the denial of access to justice,” the petition stated.

Despite its complaints, the group said it still had confidence in the judiciary, stressing that its protest was aimed at defending the rule of law rather than attacking the institution.

Aliyu disclosed that copies of the petition were also sent to President Bola Tinubu, the National Judicial Council (NJC), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), President of the Court of Appeal, ECOWAS, the European Union, the United Nations and United States embassies.

Copy link Copied! Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Telegram Follow Naija News on Google Author: Richard Ogunsile Richard Ogunsile Joshua is an Assistant Editor at Naija News. He has a background in Computer Science from The Federal Polytechnic Bida, Bida, Niger State. Covering breaking news, politics, technology, and investigative journalism since 2018. Contact him at richard.ogunsile@naijanews.com