2027: INEC Speaks On Tinubu’s Academic Credentials, Atiku’s Candidacy

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has yet to receive Certified True Copies (CTCs) of recent Federal High Court rulings concerning African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the submission of President Bola Tinubu’s academic credentials.

INEC ​‌⁠‌‍⁠⁠‍‍​‍​⁠‌‌⁠‌​Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this while speaking at a news conference in Abuja.

Responding to inquiries on the court order invalidating the candidacy of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the David Mark-led ADC leadership, Amupitan said that the commission “does not act on social media reports” but strictly on verified legal documents.

“As of today, I have not received a certified true copy of the judgment of the Federal High Court because we don’t just act on the basis of what is on social media.”

“I remember one of the judgments of the Supreme Court sometime ago where something was posted on social media, trended, and the Supreme Court disowned itself from it, leading to investigations.

“Normally, when we receive a judgment like that, it comes to the commission, first to the chairman, who asks for expert advice from the relevant department before it is taken to the commission for review,” Amupitan said.

On the court ruling ordering him to present Tinubu’s credentials, Amupitan maintained that he would only take necessary legal steps once formally served with the court order.

“I have not received the order. So, when I receive the order, I will look at what the order says and then know what to do accordingly,” he stated.

Addressing the requests for early voting provisions for journalists, security agencies and INEC officials on essential duties, the chairman noted that the proposal remained constrained by existing statutory frameworks.

“INEC initiated the process for early voting as part of the amendment of the Electoral Act, but it did not find support from the National Assembly to make provisions relating to early voting.

“So, this is still not known to our law, but it’s going to still be a process of advocacy to ensure that this is done,” he said.

Amupitan confirmed that the 54 registration officers recently indicted for sabotaging voter registration procedures were full-time staff of the commission, asserting that INEC would not cover up any wrongdoing.(Daily trust)