The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) of taking steps that would stop the occasion from contesting the 2027 elections.
In a press release on Monday, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, nationwide publicity secretary of the ADC, stated the scenario arose after INEC stopped receiving correspondence from the occasion pending the dedication of a case earlier than the federal excessive courtroom.
Abdullahi stated the event dangers undermining the occasion’s capability to take part within the electoral course of.
His phrases: “We’re compelled to lift critical considerations a few creating scenario that seems designed to forestall the African Democratic Congress from fielding candidates within the upcoming elections.
“It’s primarily based on documentary proof, which we are actually putting earlier than the Nigerian public, together with licensed INEC data, attendance logs, monitoring stories, and excerpts from the Fee’s personal sworn affidavit. Taken collectively, these paperwork set up a transparent and constant document of occasions.”
The occasion stated INEC had beforehand obtained formal discover of its July 29, 2025 nationwide govt committee (NEC) assembly.
In accordance with the assertion, the fee deployed officers to observe the assembly and documented its proceedings.
The ADC stated INEC subsequently up to date its inner data and uploaded the names of the occasion’s new management.
It added that the replace included David Mark as nationwide chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as nationwide secretary.
The occasion stated: “These will not be claims. They’re info contained in INEC’s personal data.
“As well as, the Fee’s sworn affidavit earlier than the Federal Excessive Court docket, in its response to Nafiu Bala Gombe on 12 September 2025, notably in Clauses 14 to 19, affirms key authorized ideas: that the management transition had already been accomplished and acknowledged; that such inner occasion issues fall outdoors the scope of judicial interference; that accomplished acts can’t be reversed by injunction; and in addition acknowledges the David Mark-led NWC.
“But, regardless of this clear documentary path, INEC has now taken the place that it’ll now not obtain any correspondence from the ADC pending the dedication of a matter earlier than the Federal Excessive Court docket. That is the place the contradiction turns into harmful.”
The occasion stated the choice locations it in a tough place relating to compliance with provisions of the electoral act.
In accordance with the ADC, the legislation requires political events to provide a 21-day discover and meet strict deadlines for submission of paperwork.
“Nonetheless, by refusing to obtain communication from the ADC inside this similar interval, the Fee is successfully stopping the occasion from complying with the legislation.
“In easy phrases, INEC is successfully threatening that except the courts ship judgment on the ADC management concern by Might 10, it can stop the ADC from producing candidates.
“This locations the ADC in an inconceivable place and creates a transparent pathway to synthetic non-compliance, which might then be used to justify excluding the occasion from fielding candidates. That’s the landmine,” the occasion acknowledged.
The ADC urged INEC to reverse the choice and resume receiving its correspondence, whereas reminding the fee to uphold its constitutional accountability to make sure a degree enjoying area for all political events.