Prof Joash Amupitan, INEC chairman, cautioned the African Democratic Congress against proceeding with planned congresses and its national convention amid ongoing internal disputes. The electoral body had earlier removed ADC leaders' names from its portal following a court ruling and warned it would not monitor the convention if the crisis continued. INEC also stated it would no longer recognise factional groups within the party after reviewing an appellate court judgment.
ADC's national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, insisted the party would move forward with its congresses and convention, citing due process. He noted INEC had accepted a 21-day notice for the events and would proceed regardless of the commission's involvement. Amupitan, speaking on Arise TV, warned that defying court orders could invalidate election results, citing past cases in Zamfara and Plateau where courts nullified victories due to non-compliance.
Amupitan's warning carries weight because his own organisation enforces the rules he cites. If the ADC defies court orders, its candidates risk automatic disqualification and replacement by runners-up—a direct threat to any party's ambitions. The commission's refusal to recognise factions suggests it will not bail out the party from its own legal missteps.
