The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of exhibiting partisan conduct after the commission declined to send observers to monitor the party's eighth National Convention in Abuja. The allegation emerged in a secretariat report presented by ADC National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola on Tuesday during the convention. The party described INEC's absence as a deviation from its statutory obligation to ensure transparency and fairness in political party activities. ADC claimed that other major political parties have routinely received monitoring support from INEC during similar internal processes. The commission has not publicly responded to the accusation. The convention, held in the nation's capital, was attended by delegates from across the country and featured discussions on party leadership and electoral strategy. ADC insisted that INEC's non-participation undermines the integrity of intra-party democracy and raises concerns about unequal treatment among registered parties.
Rauf Aregbesola's public presentation of INEC's refusal to monitor ADC's convention exposes a glaring inconsistency in how the electoral body engages smaller parties compared to dominant ones. That INEC has allegedly observed conventions of bigger parties but skipped ADC's eighth national gathering suggests a tiered system of oversight—one that benefits well-established parties while marginalising alternatives.
This is not merely about attendance records; it reflects a deeper structural imbalance in Nigeria's electoral ecosystem. When a party like ADC, which lacks the financial or media muscle of the APC or PDP, is denied visible institutional support during critical internal processes, it weakens public confidence in its legitimacy. The fact that Aregbesola had to highlight this omission in an official report indicates the party feels institutionally slighted, not just overlooked.
Ordinary Nigerians who seek genuine political alternatives are the real losers. Voters in urban centres and younger demographics who lean toward smaller parties may find their choices further delegitimised by perceived bureaucratic neglect. If INEC continues to apply uneven standards, it risks entrenching a two-tier party system where only a few are seen as electorally viable.
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