ADC Alleges INEC is Creating Obstacles for 2027 Candidate Participation

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is implementing "deliberate administrative landmines" designed to obstruct the party's ability to present candidates for the 2027 general elections. In a strong statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party expressed fears that INEC's recent actions could effectively bar it from the electoral process.

The core of the disagreement lies in INEC's stance that it will not process any correspondence from the ADC until a case currently before the Federal High Court is resolved. While the commission has described this move as a procedural step, the ADC views it as a significant threat to its compliance with statutory electoral requirements.

The party highlighted that the Electoral Act 2026 outlines specific timelines for political parties, including a mandatory 21-day notice period for critical activities and submission deadlines. INEC has set May 10 as the deadline for these submissions.

The ADC argues that by refusing to accept its communications during this period, INEC is essentially preventing the party from adhering to legal obligations. "In essence, INEC is implying that unless the courts decide the leadership dispute within the ADC by May 10, the party will be barred from nominating candidates," the statement read.

The party described the situation as "impossible," creating a scenario that could lead to "artificial non-compliance," which might later be used to justify its exclusion from the elections.

The ADC presented evidence indicating that INEC had previously acknowledged its current leadership structure. The commission, it stated, received official notification of the July 29, 2025 National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, monitored the proceedings, and subsequently updated its records to reflect Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.

"These are not mere assertions; they are facts documented in INEC's own records," the party asserted.

Furthermore, the ADC referred to a sworn affidavit submitted by INEC to the Federal High Court in September 2025. This affidavit, the party claims, confirmed the completion and recognition of its leadership transition, stating that such internal party matters were outside the court's jurisdiction.

Despite this, the ADC accused the electoral commission of adopting a contradictory position by halting engagement while simultaneously enforcing strict compliance deadlines.

INEC had cited its April 1 decision as a measure to avoid prejudicing the ongoing court proceedings. However, the ADC refuted this justification, arguing that the commission's action interferes with due process and carries "clear legal and operational consequences."

The party issued a warning that this development could undermine democratic principles and urged INEC to immediately retract its stance.

"We implore the commission to resume accepting all lawful correspondence from the ADC and uphold its constitutional duty to ensure a fair electoral environment for all political parties," the statement concluded.

The ADC also cautioned Nigerians to remain vigilant, suggesting that the current situation is indicative of broader efforts to subvert democratic processes.