The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) laid deliberate administrative landmines to prevent it from fielding candidates in the 2027 general elections.
The National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said at the heart of this emerging crisis is INEC’s stated position that it will no longer receive any correspondence from the ADC pending the determination of a matter before the Federal High Court.
This comes as the Youth Wing of ADC issued a three-day ultimatum to INEC, demanding the immediate restoration of what it describes as the party’s “legitimate leadership” or face coordinated nationwide civic protests.
The ADC National Youth Leader, Balarabe Rufa’i, who said this at a press conference held at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja yesterday, accused INEC of undermining Nigeria’s democracy by interfering in internal party affairs and disregarding due process.
INEC had derecognised the Senator David Mark-led ADC leadership based on
Earlier, in a statement, Abdullahi, said INEC’s claim of waiting on a court verdict may appear procedural but in reality it creates a direct and dangerous conflict with the clear 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.
ADC said it is compelled to raise serious concerns about a developing situation that appears designed to prevent it from fielding candidates in the upcoming elections.
The party spokesman added that its claim 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.
He added that taken together, these documents establish a clear and consistent record of events.
“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.
“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.”
The ADC added that 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.
Describing the commission’s position as dangerous, ADC said 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.
“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.
“We also call on Nigerians to be wary and remain vigilant about these dangerous machinations to subvert Nigeria’s democracy and impose a civilian dictatorship on the country,” ADC added.
In a related development, the ADC National Youth Leader, Balarabe Rufa’i, accused INEC of undermining Nigeria’s democracy by interfering in internal party affairs and disregarding due process.
Rufa’i said the crisis stems from a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on July 29, 2025, which, according to him, was conducted lawfully under INEC supervision. The meeting reportedly dissolved the party’s previous National Working Committee and produced a new leadership headed by former Senate President, David Mark.
He stated that INEC initially recognized the outcome, officially uploading the new leadership on September 9, 2025, without objections or disputes. However, months later, the commission allegedly reversed its position following what the ADC described as “political pressure and interference.”
“The Commission has no constitutional authority to interpret court orders,” Rufa’i said, criticizing INEC for acting on what he described as pending motions and non-binding processes rather than definitive judicial rulings.
The youth wing also referenced a Court of Appeal directive to maintain the “status quo ante bellum,” arguing that this legally affirms the leadership under David Mark. They accused INEC of ignoring this position and acting outside its constitutional mandate.
In addition to demanding the immediate reinstatement of the Mark-led leadership on INEC’s official portal, the ADC youths called for a public apology from the electoral body and urged it to refrain from actions not backed by clear court orders.
The group also called on the National Assembly to investigate the matter and consider disciplinary measures against the INEC Chairman, while urging the judiciary to clarify its rulings to prevent misinterpretation.
Addressing the executive arm of government, the youth wing warned the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu against any perceived attempt to weaken opposition parties, stating that such actions could threaten Nigeria’s democratic framework.
Rufa’i further emphasized that the military must remain neutral in the unfolding situation, describing the dispute as strictly civil and constitutional.
The ADC Youth Wing warned that failure by INEC to comply with its demands within 72 hours would trigger “peaceful, lawful, and coordinated civic action” across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. This, they said, would include the occupation of INEC offices nationwide in collaboration with civil society groups.
“This is bigger than the ADC. This is about Nigeria and the survival of democracy,” Rufa’i declared.
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