The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of trying to prevent it from fielding candidates in the 2027 general elections.
ADC, in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said despite deploying officials to monitor its July 29, 2025, meeting, it documented the proceedings and received formal reports from its field officers.
Following this, it uploaded the names of the new leadership led by Senator David Mark. The commission now said it would no longer receive any correspondence from the ADC pending the determination of a matter before the Federal High Court.
“This is where the contradiction becomes dangerous,” the party stated.
ADC noted that the Electoral Act imposes strict timelines on political parties, including the 2-day notice requirement and submission deadlines, while INEC itself has fixed May 10 as the deadline for the submission of relevant documents.
It added that by refusing to receive communication from it 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 judgement 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,” ADC stated.
It disputed the commission’s claim that its April 1 decision was taken to avoid rendering the proceedings before the Federal High Court nugatory, and said the reality is the opposite.
According to the ADC, 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, recognised, and swore to an affidavit confirming the ADC leadership is now acting in a way that contradicts its earlier position,” the party said.
It therefore called on the commission to immediately reverse its 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,” the party demanded.
