The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described its
derecognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a
“plot” to prevent the party from fielding candidates in the 2027 general
election.
In a statement issued on Monday, Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC’s
national publicity secretary, alleged that the commission’s action, including
the refusal to receive correspondence from the party, is designed to create
obstacles that would ultimately exclude it from the electoral process.
Since July 2025, when an opposition coalition took over the
ADC’s leadership, the party has been embroiled in internal disputes, with Nafiu
Bala, a former deputy national chairman, alleging that David Mark, former
senate president, was illegally appointed as the national chairman.
The crisis escalated last Wednesday when the electoral
umpire derecognised the Mark-led leadership.
INEC said it would refrain from engaging with Mark’s
leadership and Bala faction, citing the March 12 judgement of the court of
appeal.
The commission noted that it would not attend meetings,
congresses, or conventions of the groups pending the determination of a case
before the federal high court.
‘PLOT TO EXCLUDE ADC FROM 2027 ELECTIONS’
Abdullahi said the commission’s decision conflicts with its
2027 election timetable and provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, which sets
strict timelines for political parties to conduct primaries and submit
candidates’ details for the 2027 elections.
“We are compelled to raise serious concerns about a
developing situation that appears designed to prevent the African Democratic
Congress (ADC) from fielding candidates in the upcoming elections,” the
statement reads.
“It is based on documentary evidence which we are now
placing before the Nigerian public, including certified INEC records,
attendance logs, monitoring reports, and excerpts from the Commission’s own
affidavit. Taken together, these documents establish a clear and consistent
record of events.
“INEC received formal notice of the July 29, 2025, National
Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ADC. It deployed officials to monitor
that meeting. It documented the proceedings and received formal reports from
its field officers.
“Following this, INEC updated its internal records and
uploaded the names of the new leadership, including Senator David Mark as
National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary. These are
not claims. They are facts contained in INEC’s own records.
Abdullahi said in the affidavit, the electoral umpire told
the court that internal party matters are beyond judicial interference and that
completed actions cannot be reversed by injunction.
“Yet, despite this clear documentary trail, INEC has now
taken the position that it will no longer receive any correspondence from the
ADC pending the determination of a matter before the Federal High Court. This
is where the contradiction becomes dangerous.
“The Electoral Act imposes strict timelines on political
parties, including the 21-day notice requirement and submission deadlines. INEC
itself has fixed May 10 as the deadline for the submission of relevant
documents. However, by refusing to receive communication from the ADC within
this same period, the Commission is effectively preventing the Party from
complying with the law.
“In simple terms, INEC is effectively threatening that
unless the courts deliver judgment on the ADC leadership issue by May 10, it
will prevent the ADC from producing candidates.
“This places the ADC in an impossible position and creates a
clear pathway to artificial non-compliance, which can then be used to justify
excluding the Party from fielding candidates. That is the landmine.”
Abdullahi asked INEC to “immediately” reverse its position,
resume accepting correspondence from the ADC, and ensure a level playing field
for all political parties in the upcoming elections.
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