African Democratic Congress, on Monday, accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of plotting to stop its candidates from participating in the 2027 general elections.
ADC alleged that INEC was orchestrating “deliberate administrative landmines” aimed at preventing the party from fielding candidates in the elections.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, in a strongly worded letter, alleged that INEC’s recent actions could effectively exclude it from participating in the electoral process.
At the centre of the dispute is INEC’s recent derecognition of the ADC leadership pending the determination of a case before the Federal High Court.
While the commission has framed the move as procedural, the party insists it poses a direct threat to its ability to meet statutory electoral requirements.
According to the ADC, the Electoral Act 2026 provides clear timelines for political parties, including a mandatory 21-day notice period for key activities and deadlines for submission of documents.
The party noted that INEC had already fixed May 10 as the deadline for such submissions.
The ADC argued that by refusing to receive its communications within this period, INEC is effectively blocking it from complying with the law.
“In simple terms, INEC is threatening that unless the courts deliver judgment on the ADC leadership issue by May 10, it will prevent the party from producing candidates,” the statement said.
The party maintained that the situation places it in an “impossible position,” creating what it described as a pathway to “artificial non-compliance” that could later be used to justify its exclusion from the elections.
Citing documentary evidence, the ADC said INEC had previously recognised its current leadership structure. It stated that the commission received formal notice of its July 29, 2025 National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, deployed officials to monitor the proceedings, and subsequently updated its records to reflect the emergence of 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,” the party said.
The ADC further pointed to a sworn affidavit filed by INEC before the Federal High Court in September 2025, which it said affirmed that the party’s leadership transition had been completed and recognised, and that such internal matters fall outside the scope of judicial interference.
Despite this, the party accused the electoral body of adopting a contradictory stance by suspending engagement with it while simultaneously enforcing strict compliance deadlines.
INEC had justified its April 1 decision as a measure to avoid undermining ongoing court proceedings. However, the ADC rejected this explanation, arguing that the commission’s action interferes with due process and produces “clear legal and operational consequences.”
The party warned that the development could undermine democratic principles and called on INEC to immediately reverse its position.
“We urge the commission to resume 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 added.
The ADC also called on Nigerians to remain vigilant, alleging that the situation reflects broader attempts to subvert democratic processes.
