The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified its position on the controversies surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic credentials and the eligibility of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to contest the 2027 presidential election.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, said the commission would not act on reports circulating on social media or make decisions based on court judgments it had not officially received.
Amupitan disclosed this on Monday, November 9, 2026, during a news conference on the voter register in Abuja.
According to him, INEC was yet to receive certified true copies (CTCs) of recent Federal High Court judgments relating to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), its leadership crisis and the legal dispute concerning Tinubu’s academic credentials.
Speaking on the court decisions affecting the ADC and Atiku’s candidacy, the INEC chairman stressed that the commission must first obtain and examine the official court documents before taking any position.
He explained that once a judgment is formally received, it is forwarded to the relevant departments for legal advice before the commission determines its next course of action.
“We don’t just act on the basis of what is on social media,” Amupitan reportedly stated.
Why INEC has not removed Atiku’s name
The clarification comes days after a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, November 5, 2026, nullified the leadership structure of the David Mark-led ADC and the processes that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Peter Lifu following a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC deputy national chairman, who challenged the emergence of the David Mark-led leadership.
The court’s decision invalidated the processes that produced the party’s leadership and Atiku’s presidential nomination.
However, INEC’s chairman explained that the commission could not immediately implement the judgment without receiving and examining its certified copy.
This also explains why Atiku’s name remained on INEC’s published list of presidential candidates despite the court ruling. Nigeria Info FM +2
Court order on Tinubu’s academic credentials
On the controversy surrounding President Tinubu’s academic records, Amupitan disclosed that he had not received the formal court order directing him to produce the President’s credentials.
He maintained that INEC would examine the specific requirements of the order and determine the appropriate legal steps after being formally served.
The development is significant because a separate Federal High Court proceeding involving human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has also resulted in a subpoena directing the INEC chairman to produce Tinubu’s electoral nomination documents for the 1999 Lagos governorship election and the 2023 presidential election.
The subpoena was issued by Justice Mohammed Garba Umar.
The requested documents include Tinubu’s Form CF001 and an affidavit relating to lost certificates. The case was adjourned to Wednesday, November 11, 2026. The Guardian Nigeria +1
What happens next?
INEC’s position means that neither the ADC leadership dispute nor the controversy surrounding Tinubu’s academic credentials has received a final administrative response from the commission based on the newly reported court orders.
The commission says it will:
- Obtain the certified copies of the relevant court judgments and orders.
- Refer the documents to its relevant legal departments for professional advice.
- Examine the circumstances and legal implications of each case.
- Determine the appropriate action in accordance with the law.
For now, Atiku’s position on the INEC candidate list remains unchanged pending the commission’s examination of the court judgment. Similarly, INEC has not indicated what action it will take regarding Tinubu’s records until it receives the relevant court order.
Sources: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Premium Times, The Guardian, TheCable and Reuters.