ADC Accuses Ruling Party of Orchestrating Pressure Campaign on INEC
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised a serious alarm, alleging a coordinated effort by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into destabilizing the opposition party. This accusation comes in the wake of former Sokoto State Governor and prominent politician, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, defecting to the ADC and mobilizing his supporters nationwide to follow suit.
Allegations of Political Interference and Legal Manipulation
In a detailed statement issued by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC claims that top government officials are attempting to influence INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), to interfere with the party's internal leadership under David Mark. The party asserts that this move is a direct response to the political jitters caused by Kwankwaso's high-profile defection, which has bolstered the ADC's appeal as a viable opposition force.
The controversy centers on a legal dispute allegedly being exploited beyond the courtroom. According to the ADC, a letter dated March 28, 2026, authored by a team of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) representing an expelled party member, is being used to push INEC into taking premature actions. The letter reportedly demands that INEC invalidate party meetings, remove recognized officials, and transfer party affairs to a specific individual—actions the ADC describes as based on a curious interpretation of a Court of Appeal ruling regarding "status quo ante bellum."
Threats and Constitutional Concerns
Shockingly, the ADC alleges that the letter even includes a threat to arrest the INEC chairman if their demands are not met within seven days. The party emphasizes that the case in question has not been fully adjudicated by the courts, making any such enforcement by INEC both improper and unconstitutional. The ADC identifies the aggrieved party as Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, whom they clarify was never the National Chairman of the ADC and had previously resigned from the National Working Committee before being expelled.
"Any attempt to recreate a 'status quo' that upgrades his position to National Chairman of the ADC at any point in time is, at best, fictitious," the statement asserts, dismissing the claims as part of a broader political conspiracy aimed at undermining the party's growth and credibility.
ADC's Vow to Resist and Call for Impartiality
The ADC has vowed to resist these alleged pressures using all constitutional means, framing the situation as a convergence of legal manipulation and political intent by a ruling party unsettled by the ADC's rising influence. "No amount of pressure, no manufactured confusion, and no distortion of legal processes will stop what is already in motion," the party declared, highlighting its expanding membership and the formation of a credible opposition.
In a final appeal, the ADC called on INEC to remain guided by the Constitution, resist all forms of external pressure, and uphold its duty as an impartial electoral umpire. This development underscores the intense political tensions in Nigeria as parties jostle for position ahead of future elections, with the ADC positioning itself as a growing challenger to the APC's dominance.
