The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may take a decision on the leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) next week, subject to the receipt of the court judgement and a meeting of its commissioners.
The commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, disclosed this in a telephone interview, saying INEC was yet to receive the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgement on the party’s leadership dispute.
Haruna said the commission had, however, received the ADC’s appeal against the ruling and its application for a stay of execution.
“I’m not aware we received the CTC. We still haven’t received it,” he 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,” he added.
Asked when the commission could decide on the matter after receiving the court document, Haruna said the issue would require deliberation by the commissioners.
He explained that INEC’s chairman was away on an official engagement and would not be available for the commission’s scheduled meeting.
According to him, the commission usually meets on Thursdays, although meetings are sometimes held on Tuesdays.
Haruna said the chairman was expected to return on Sunday, raising the possibility of a meeting 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 whether Tuesday was a possible date, he replied, “Possibly even Tuesday. Because I think he should be back before then.”
However, the commissioner cautioned that the dates were not definite, saying he could not guarantee when the commission would meet or reach a decision.
His comments suggest that the ADC leadership dispute could be considered next week, depending on the receipt of the certified judgement and the availability of the commission’s leadership.
ADC members petition NJC, UN, US over judgement
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 alleged judicial bias in the party’s leadership dispute.
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The group also protested at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing Justice Peter Lifu of delaying the release of the Certified True Copy of the judgement that nullified the National Working Committee led by Senator David Mark.
In a protest letter dated November 10, 2026, the group said it disagreed with the judgement but had decided to challenge it through lawful and constitutional means.
Speaking at the court premises, the forum’s coordinator, Audu Aliyu, said the party’s lawyers applied for the certified copy immediately after the judgement was delivered on November 5 and made the required payment.
He alleged that despite repeated visits to the court registry, the document had yet to be released as of Tuesday morning.
Aliyu further alleged that pressure was being mounted on INEC to act on a judgement that had 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 withholding the judgement from the party while it was allegedly being used to influence INEC could undermine its constitutional right to appeal.
“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.
The forum reaffirmed its confidence in the judiciary, saying the protest was aimed at defending the rule of law rather than undermining the institution.
Aliyu said the petition was also copied to President Bola Tinubu, the National Judicial Council, the Nigerian Bar Association, the President of the Court of Appeal, ECOWAS, the United Nations, the European Union and the United States embassies.
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