LAGOS
The opposition African Democratic Congress, ADC, accused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of laying landmines to stop it from fielding candidates in the 2027 polls.
The ADC through its youth arm also gave a 72-hour ultimatum to the electoral umpire to reverse its non-recognition of the Senator David Mark-led National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party or face nationwide protests.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC alleged that deliberate administrative landmines are being laid by INEC to prevent the party from fielding candidates in the upcoming general elections.
The party stated that at the heart of this emerging crisis is INEC’s position that it would no longer receive any correspondence from the ADC, pending the determination of a matter before the Federal High Court.
ADC said on its face, this might appear procedural, adding that in reality, it has created a direct and dangerous conflict with the clear timelines imposed by the Electoral Act (2026), which provides defined windows, including the mandatory 21-day notice period and subsequent submission requirements, within which political parties must complete critical electoral processes.
The statement read: “We are compelled to raise serious concerns about a developing situation that appears designed to prevent African Democratic Congress, ADC, from fielding candidates in the upcoming elections.
“It is based on documentary evidence which we are now placing before the Nigerian public, including certified INEC records, attendance logs, monitoring reports, and excerpts from the commission’s own sworn affidavit. Taken together, these documents establish a clear and consistent record of events.
“INEC received formal notice of the July 29, 2025 National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the ADC. It deployed officials to monitor that meeting. It documented the proceedings and received formal reports from its field officers.
“Following this, INEC updated its internal records and uploaded the names of the new leadership, including Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.
Abdullahi said the commission’s sworn affidavit before the Federal High Court, in its response to Nafiu Bala Gombe on September 12, 2025, particularly in Clauses 14 to 19, affirms key legal principles: that the leadership transition had already been completed and recognised, that such internal party matters fall outside the scope of judicial interference, that completed acts cannot be reversed by injunction, and also recognises the David Mark-led NWC.
“Yet, despite this clear documentary trail, INEC has now taken the position that it will no longer receive any correspondence from the ADC, pending determination of a matter before the Federal High Court. This is where the contradiction becomes dangerous.
“The Electoral Act imposes strict timelines on political parties, including the 21-day notice requirement and submission deadlines. INEC itself has fixed May 10 as the deadline for the submission of relevant documents. However, by refusing to receive communication from the ADC within this same period, the commission is effectively preventing the party from complying with the law.
“In simple terms, INEC is effectively threatening that unless the courts deliver judgment on the ADC leadership issue by May 10, it will prevent the ADC from producing candidates.
“This places the ADC in an impossible position and creates a clear pathway to artificial non-compliance, which can then be used to justify excluding the party from fielding candidates. That is the landmine.
“INEC has claimed that its April 1 decision was taken to avoid rendering the proceedings before the Federal High Court nugatory. The reality is the opposite. By intervening in a matter already before the court and issuing a pronouncement with clear legal and operational consequences, the commission has itself undermined the very process it claims to protect.
“What is even more concerning is that this position contradicts INEC’s own prior conduct and legal stance. The same commission that monitored, documented, recognised, and swore to an affidavit confirming the ADC leadership is now acting in a way that contradicts its earlier position.
“We, therefore, call on the commission to immediately reverse this position, resume the acceptance of all lawful correspondence from the ADC, and uphold its constitutional responsibility to ensure a level playing field for all political parties.
“We also call on Nigerians to be wary and remain vigilant about these dangerous machinations to subvert Nigeria’s democracy and impose a civilian dictatorship on the country.”
Meanwhile, the youth wing of the ADC has given the INEC 72 hours to reverse what it describes as unconstitutional actions of removing its chairman, warning that failure to comply would trigger nationwide civic protests.
Speaking at a briefing at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, yesterday, ADC National Youth Leader, Balarabe Rufa’i, accused INEC of interfering in the party’s internal affairs and overstepping its constitutional role.
“Nigeria is under democratic siege. What should have been a steady consolidation of 27 uninterrupted years of civil rule since 1999 is now being deliberately undermined by those entrusted to protect it,” he said.
The youth wing anchored its position on a NEC meeting held on July 29 2025, which it said was conducted under INEC supervision and produced a new National Working Committee, led by Senator David Mark.
According to the group, INEC initially accepted the outcome, verified the process, and officially recognised the leadership on September 9, 2025, without objection, before later reversing its position.
“There was no dispute, no objection, no ambiguity. So, what changed? Power, pressure and political interference,” Rufa’i said.
The youth wing argued that although the matter is before the courts, the Court of Appeal had ordered parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, which it interpreted as preserving the last uncontested leadership under Mark.
“That position is clear: the leadership under Senator David Mark. Yet INEC chose to ignore established facts, disregard due process and unlawfully interpret a court order.
“INEC has no constitutional authority to interpret court orders. That duty belongs strictly to the courts.
What INEC has done is not neutrality; it is complicity, partisanship and institutional sabotage.
“We hereby issue a three-day ultimatum to INEC to immediately restore the Senator David Mark-led leadership on its official portal.
“We also demand the immediate resignation or removal of the INEC Chairman for presiding over actions that have undermined credibility of the commission,” the ADC National Youth Leader said.
They warned that failure to act within the 72-hour window would trigger coordinated nationwide protests.
“We will initiate nationwide, peaceful, and lawful civic action across all 36 states and the FCT. ADC youths and concerned Nigerians, including civil society organisations, will lawfully occupy INEC offices nationwide and sustain civic resistance until full restoration of democratic order.
“We will not retreat, we will not be intimidated, we will not be silenced. This is bigger than ADC. This is about Nigeria,” Rufa’i said.
