Paul Ibeh, media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman of conspiring to undermine Nigeria’s opposition and democracy.
Ibeh made the allegation on Tuesday, April 7, in a post on X, following INEC’s withdrawal of recognition from the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress.
He claimed that presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga had indicated that Nafiu Bala had emerged as ADC national chairman, suggesting the development was influenced by the President and INEC.
Ibeh questioned how this could happen given that INEC had previously filed court documents challenging Bala’s eligibility for the position.
“Bayo Onanuga is posting on his X account that Nafiu Bala is now the ADC Chairman because his Tinubu’s @NGRPresident and Amupitan’s @inecnigeria are in bed with Bala to annihilate the opposition and inevitably subvert Nigeria’s democracy,” he wrote.
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“This is the same INEC that filed processes in court last year to show cause why Bala is not deserving of the Chairmanship of the ADC. What has changed since then?”
Ibeh accused Tinubu and INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan of engineering what he described as a “democratic faux pas,” warning that such actions could signal a shift toward dictatorship.
“Tinubu and Amupitan are the ones cooking up the democratic faux pas. Our message to them is that this dictatorship may live, but not for very long. Does this remind you of another era in our recent history?” he said.
The accusation comes amid an escalating crisis within the ADC, which has seen competing factions led by David Mark and Nafiu Bala claim leadership of the party.
INEC withdrew recognition from both factions last Wednesday, citing a Court of Appeal judgment and the need to maintain neutrality while the matter remains before the Federal High Court.