The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grill Nafiu Gombe over an alleged forged document falsely claiming he accessed the commission’s candidate nomination portal and uploaded the party’s candidates for the 2027 general election.
The party called for the investigation and prosecution of Gombe and any other persons allegedly involved in the creation and circulation of the document, arguing that such actions undermine the integrity of INEC, erode public confidence in the electoral process and threaten the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy.
The demand was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, following INEC’s clarification that the document circulated by Gombe, purportedly showing that he had obtained the commission’s access code and uploaded candidates on behalf of the ADC, was forged and that the claim was entirely false.
According to the party, the matter extends beyond what it described as a series of false statements allegedly made by Gombe, stressing that it represents a deliberate attempt to mislead Nigerians through fabricated documents that directly impugn the integrity of the country’s electoral management body.
The ADC argued that publicly claiming to have gained access to INEC’s restricted nomination portal and exercised powers reserved for duly recognised party officials was a grave allegation capable of undermining public trust in the electoral process, creating unnecessary political tension and raising doubts about the security and credibility of the commission’s systems.
The party therefore urged INEC to take all necessary steps to ensure that Gombe and anyone involved in originating or promoting the alleged falsehood are investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“It is about protecting the integrity of public institutions. It is about ensuring that no one believes they can make false claims that involve critical national institutions without consequences. More importantly, it is about preserving public confidence in the processes that underpin our democracy,” the statement said.
The ADC described Gombe’s alleged actions as “a direct challenge” to INEC’s institutional integrity, warning that the manner in which the commission handles the matter would send a strong signal about the commitment of public institutions to defending their credibility and upholding the rule of law.
It cautioned that allowing individuals to falsely claim access to INEC’s secured systems without consequences could establish a dangerous precedent, encouraging similar misinformation capable of creating confusion, inflaming political tensions and weakening confidence in future elections.
Reaffirming its commitment to democratic politics, respect for public institutions and peaceful political competition, the party expressed confidence that the relevant authorities would act decisively to ensure that deliberate falsehoods involving key national institutions do not become an accepted feature of Nigeria’s democratic process.