The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of deliberately working to prevent the party from participating fully in the 2027 general election, following its recent derecognition.
In a statement issued on Monday, April 6, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, alleged that INEC’s actions, including its refusal to accept official correspondence from the party, were part of a broader plan to sideline the ADC from the electoral process.
The dispute stems from an ongoing leadership crisis within the party, which began in July 2025 after a new leadership emerged under David Mark.
The development was contested by Nafiu Bala, a former deputy national chairman, who claimed the appointment was unlawful.
Tensions escalated last week when INEC announced it would no longer recognise the Mark-led leadership or the rival faction.
The commission cited a March 12 Court of Appeal judgment and stated it would not engage with either group or attend their meetings, congresses, or conventions until a pending case before the Federal High Court is resolved.
Reacting, Abdullahi argued that INEC’s position contradicts its own regulations and the Electoral Act 2026, particularly with timelines already set 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.
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“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 further pointed to INEC’s own affidavit in response to Bala’s petition, where the commission reportedly argued that internal party matters fall outside 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.”
The party called on INEC to immediately reverse its stance, resume accepting its communications, and ensure fairness for all political parties ahead of the 2027 elections.