The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reaffirmed its decision to move forward with its planned congresses and national convention, regardless of the stance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the party’s internal leadership dispute.
Speaking on Arise TV, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated that ADC had fulfilled the legal requirement by notifying INEC ahead of the scheduled activities and would not halt the process.
His words: “We have given INEC 21 days’ notice. They have accepted the notice. So whether they come or not, we’ll continue with our congresses. And we will go on with our convention.”
INEC had earlier announced it would no longer recognise factions led by David Mark and Nafiu Bala after reviewing a Court of Appeal judgment.
Reacting to the development, Abdullahi alleged that the commission’s decision may have been influenced by external pressure, warning of attempts to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Today, INEC has been bamboozled. INEC has been intimidated. INEC has succumbed to intimidation and they are determined to coronet President Bola Tinubu,” he said.
“When we keep saying that there’s a plan to make President Bola Tinubu the only candidate on the ballot in 2027, people think we’re being hysteric. They think we’re just banding conspiracy theory.”
He also criticised INEC’s proposed voter revalidation exercise, describing it as poorly timed and potentially disruptive to the electoral process.
“Getting people to register to vote is difficult enough. Asking every single person that has a voter card to go back to their polling units to revalidate those cards a few months to the election is just plain anarchy,” he said.
“All this points to INEC trying to create chaos.”
Abdullahi further urged Nigerians to stay alert, noting that recent developments raise serious concerns about the state of the country’s democracy.