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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described its derecognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a “plot” to prevent the party from fielding candidates in the 2027 general election.
In a statement issued on Monday, Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC’s national publicity secretary, alleged that the commission’s action, including the refusal to receive correspondence from the party, is designed to create obstacles that would ultimately exclude it from the electoral process.
Since July 2025, when an opposition coalition took over the ADC’s leadership, the party has been embroiled in internal disputes, with Nafiu Bala, a former deputy national chairman, alleging that David Mark, former senate president, was illegally appointed as the national chairman.
The crisis escalated last Wednesday when the electoral umpire derecognised the Mark-led leadership.
INEC said it would refrain from engaging with Mark’s leadership and Bala faction, citing the March 12 judgement of the court of appeal.
The commission noted that it would not attend meetings, congresses, or conventions of the groups pending the determination of a case before the federal high court.
‘PLOT TO EXCLUDE ADC FROM 2027 ELECTIONS’
Abdullahi said the commission’s decision conflicts with its 2027 election timetable and provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, which sets strict timelines for political parties to conduct primaries and submit candidates’ details for the 2027 elections.
“We are compelled to raise serious concerns about a developing situation that appears designed to prevent the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from fielding candidates in the upcoming elections,” the statement reads.
“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 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. These are not claims. They are facts contained in INEC’s own records.
Abdullahi said in the affidavit filed in response to Bala’s petition, the electoral umpire told the federal high court that internal party matters are beyond judicial interference and that completed actions cannot be reversed by injunction.
“Yet, despite this clear documentary trail, INEC has now taken the position that it will no longer receive any correspondence from the ADC pending the 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.
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“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.”
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Abdullahi asked INEC to “immediately” reverse its position, resume accepting correspondence from the ADC, and ensure a level playing field for all political parties in the upcoming elections.
