The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of breaching the law and showing bias in the party’s ongoing leadership crisis.
Speaking on Thursday during Arise Television’s Morning Show, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, claimed that former party official Nafiu Bala Gombe no longer has the legal authority to represent the party. He argued that Bala’s tenure ended after his resignation and the dissolution of the executive committee he was part of.
Abdullahi emphasized that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), which is the highest decision-making body after the convention, has already made binding decisions regarding the leadership structure.
He also questioned INEC’s actions, alleging that the commission continues to recognize moves by Bala despite being aware of his resignation, thereby taking sides in the dispute.
Additionally, Abdullahi accused INEC of ignoring an existing Court of Appeal directive to maintain the status quo, describing the commission’s actions as a disregard for the court.
The commission also said it would not recognise Bala, who is seeking to be declared national chairman through the courts, and announced the suspension of recognition of all factions within the party pending the determination of a substantive suit before the Federal High Court.
Abdullahi said: “As at July 17, he was no longer an official of the party, and INEC knew this. So as I was saying, he has no locus.
“It is a settled matter in court that the issue of leadership is wholly and internal affairs of the political parties and the NEC is the next most senior organ of the party, next to the convention.
“The NEC said that the executive that he belonged, even if he said he did not resign, the executive that he belong has been duly dissolved.
“So on what basis is INEC recognizing Bala’s action? Because INEC knew since August 12 that they received a notice of his resignation that he is no longer an official of the party.
“So what basis he being recognized? So recognizing Nafiu Bala’s action means that INEC is taking a side.
“What INEC has done effectively is to violate the directive of the appeal court, and that is criminal.
“If you are talking about contempt, that is what INEC has done. INEC, today, is behaving like a criminal organization. And Amupitan is a chief criminal because what the Court of Appeal said is maintained status quo.”