The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of planning to exclude the party from the 2027 elections. The allegation was made in a statement released on Monday by the party's National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi. He said the party has documentary evidence, including certified INEC records, attendance logs, monitoring reports, and excerpts from an INEC affidavit, showing that the commission acknowledged the ADC's National Executive Committee meeting on July 29, 2025. INEC officials were present at the meeting, and the commission later updated its records to reflect new leadership, naming Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.
Abdullahi stated that INEC has now reversed its position, refusing to accept any correspondence from the ADC until a Federal High Court resolves a leadership dispute within the party. He noted that the Electoral Act requires parties to submit documents 21 days before set deadlines, with INEC fixing May 10 for submissions. By withholding recognition during this period, the commission risks making compliance impossible. "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," he said. The party claims this creates a risk of "artificial non-compliance" that could be used to disqualify it. The ADC has urged INEC to reverse its decision and ensure fairness for all parties.
INEC's refusal to accept ADC correspondence until a court rules on its leadership creates a procedural trap no party should face. By tying administrative recognition to judicial timelines it does not control, the commission risks undermining its own credibility. Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola's documented recognition in INEC's records makes the current stance appear inconsistent. If unresolved, this could set a precedent where electoral compliance hinges not on party action but on court speed, disadvantaging parties in similar disputes.
