The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of creating obstacles that could prevent the party from fielding candidates for the 2027 elections.
In a statement by National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC urged INEC to reverse its stance, resume accepting lawful correspondence from the party, and uphold a level playing field for all political groups.
At the centre of the dispute is INEC’s decision to stop receiving correspondence from the ADC pending a Federal High Court ruling. The party says this seemingly procedural move clashes with strict timelines under the Electoral Act (2026), including a mandatory 21-day notice and submission deadlines for electoral processes.
The ADC stressed that INEC had previously monitored its July 29, 2025 National Executive Committee meeting, updated internal records, and recognised the party’s leadership, including Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary. INEC’s own sworn affidavit to the Federal High Court confirmed the leadership transition and legal principles that such matters should not be reversed.
“Yet, despite clear records, INEC now refuses to receive any communication from the ADC pending the court’s decision,” the statement said.
The party warned that this could make compliance with the Electoral Act impossible, effectively blocking the ADC from fielding candidates if the court does not rule by the May 10 document submission deadline. The ADC called the move a “landmine” that could justify the party’s exclusion from the elections.
The ADC urged INEC to reverse the decision and called on Nigerians to remain vigilant against attempts to undermine democratic processes.
