ADC to Proceed with Congresses Despite INEC's Non-Recognition Amid Leadership Dispute

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced its intention to proceed with scheduled congresses and a national convention, despite the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) recent decision to suspend recognition of all party factions amid a leadership dispute.

Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC's National Publicity Secretary, stated that the party had duly notified INEC of its plans. "We have given INEC 21 days’ notice. They have accepted the notice," he said. "So whether they come or not, we’ll continue with our congresses. And we will go on with our convention."

INEC had earlier declared it would no longer recognize the factions led by David Mark and Nafiu Bala Gombe, following a review of a Court of Appeal judgment. The commission stated it would refrain from monitoring any conventions or congresses organized by these factions until the Federal High Court resolves the substantive suit.

Abdullahi alleged that INEC's actions were influenced by external pressures. He claimed that the government was "panicked from the opposition momentum despite its efforts to destroy all opposition parties and foist a one-party rule on Nigeria." He further suggested that there were attempts to manipulate the political process in favor of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.

Addressing INEC's planned revalidation exercise, Abdullahi expressed concerns about its timing. "Getting people to register to vote is difficult enough. Asking every single person that has a voter card to go back to their polling units to revalidate those cards a few months to the election is just plain anarchy," he said. "All this points to INEC trying to create chaos."

He urged Nigerians to be vigilant about the state of the country's democracy. "We are all Nigerians. We can see what is going on. We can see our democracy unraveling before our very eyes," Abdullahi added. "But it is very clear what is going on and it should concern everybody."