Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has called INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan a "liar" over remarks linking the party's planned congresses to past electoral crises in Zamfara and Rivers States. Speaking via his X account on Friday, Okonkwo rejected Amupitan's warning that the ADC could face a similar fate if it proceeds with internal processes without complying with court orders. INEC had earlier removed David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its portal as National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC, citing ongoing legal disputes. The commission also suspended recognition of all ADC factions and said it would not monitor any party congresses or primaries until a substantive suit before the Federal High Court is resolved.
Okonkwo argued that no court has barred the ADC from holding congresses or primaries, noting the party had given the required 21-day notice to INEC. He insisted INEC's role in party processes is purely observational and not mandatory. He dismissed the comparison with Zamfara and Rivers, stating those cases involved defiance of court rulings, not INEC directives. Okonkwo accused Amupitan of pushing an agenda to undermine ADC's chances in the 2027 elections. He described the internal party dispute as a "hostile takeover attempt" allegedly backed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) using a former member of the ADC's National Working Committee.
Prof. Joash Amupitan's public warning to the ADC plays far beyond its official mandate, especially when no court has barred the party's congresses. By positioning INEC as a gatekeeper rather than an observer, his comments risk normalising institutional overreach in party affairs. This sets a precedent where electoral authorities can indirectly influence which parties remain viable ahead of elections. For Nigerian voters, it signals fewer choices if internal party disputes are leveraged to disqualify opposition platforms without judicial finality.
