Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has warned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against holding its national convention without the commission's oversight. The caution was issued during an interview with Arise TV on Friday, after the party indicated plans to proceed with its congresses independently. Amupitan stressed that political parties in Nigeria are required by law to conduct their internal elections under INEC supervision to ensure compliance with established guidelines. He noted that any convention held outside this framework may not be recognised by the electoral body. The ADC had earlier maintained its intention to hold the event despite the regulatory stance.
A party defying INEC's oversight while expecting recognition exposes a flaw in Nigeria's political logic. Joash Amupitan's warning to the ADC isn't new law—it's a restatement of existing rules the party appears to be testing. When a national convention proceeds without regulatory approval, the outcome holds no weight in the official political process. For Nigerian voters, this means internal party decisions made in defiance of procedure could lead to candidate disputes and weakened electoral credibility.
