The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of obstructing its participation in the 2027 general elections by refusing to accept correspondence from the party. Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC's National Publicity Secretary, stated that INEC's decision contradicts the Electoral Act (2026), which sets clear timelines for party submissions, including a mandatory 21-day notice period. He cited certified documents, attendance logs, and INEC's own sworn affidavit from 12 September 2025, which reportedly affirm the legitimacy of ADC's leadership transition, including Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary. Despite this, INEC declared on 1 April that it would no longer receive ADC communications pending resolution of a case before the Federal High Court. Abdullahi argued that this stance places the party in an impossible position, as it cannot meet the 10 May deadline for document submission without engagement from INEC. The party claims this creates an artificial path to disqualification. ADC youths have threatened nationwide civil action, including occupation of INEC offices, and demanded the resignation of INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
INEC's refusal to engage ADC while citing a court matter directly undermines the timeline the commission itself enforced. The contradiction between its internal recognition of ADC's leadership in 2025 and its current administrative freeze raises serious questions about consistency. For Nigerian voters, this could mean diminished choice if a party is sidelined not by law but by procedural blockade. It also sets a precedent where electoral participation hinges on judicial speed, not party readiness.
