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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of plotting to prevent it from fielding candidates in the 2027 general election.
The ADC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated that INEC has declared that it would no longer receive any correspondence from the party pending the determination of a matter before the Federal High Court.
The opposition party noted that while on the surface, INEC stance appears procedural, it conflicts with the timelines imposed by the Electoral Act (2026), “which provides defined windows, including the mandatory 21-day notice period and subsequent submission requirements, within which political parties must complete critical electoral processes.”
INEC, last week, withdrew the recognition of the Mark-led NWC and delisted the ADC leadership from its portal, citing a Court of Appeal order, directing parties in a suit on the leadership of the opposition party to maintain status quo ante bellum.
Mark, former Senate president, took over the leadership of the ADC after the resignation of Nwosu and other NWC members, following the adoption of the party by key opposition politicians as the coalition platform for the 2027 polls.
However, former ADC Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Gombe, has been laying claim to the leadership of the opposition party, since the resignation of Nwosu.
Nonetheless, the opposition party stated that since INEC has fixed May 10 as deadline for the submission of relevant documents in relation to the 2027 polls, the commission by refusing to receive its communication this same period is “effectively preventing the party from complying with the law.
“We are compelled to raise serious concerns about a developing situation that appears designed to prevent the ADC from fielding candidates in the upcoming elections. 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 sworn 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 names of the new leadership, including Senator Mark as national chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary.
“These are not claims. They are facts contained in INEC’s own records. In addition, the Commission’s sworn affidavit before the Federal High Court, in its response to Nafiu Bala Gombe on 12 September 2025, particularly in Clauses 14 to 19, affirms key legal principles: that the leadership transition had already been completed and recognized, that such internal party matters fall outside the scope of judicial interference, that completed acts cannot be reversed by injunction, and also recognizes the David Mark-led NWC.
“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.”
“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.
“INEC has claimed that its April 1 decision was taken to avoid rendering the proceedings before the Federal High Court nugatory. The reality is the opposite. By intervening in a matter already before the court and issuing a pronouncement with clear legal and operational consequences, the Commission has itself undermined the very process it claims to protect.
“What is even more concerning is that this position contradicts INEC’s own prior conduct and legal stance. The same Commission that monitored, documented, recognized, and swore to an affidavit confirming the ADC leadership is now acting in a way that contradicts its earlier position.
“We, therefore, call on the Commission to immediately reverse this position, resume the acceptance of all lawful correspondence from the ADC, and uphold its constitutional responsibility to ensure a level playing field for all political parties,” the statement said.
