The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised concerns among political parties in Nigeria, with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) warning that recent actions by the electoral body could prevent it from fielding candidates in the 2027 general elections. According to Naija News, the ADC recently issued a statement expressing dismay over INEC’s refusal to accept its communications, arguing that this move could effectively shut the party out of the electoral process.
The alarm was sounded by Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, who emphasized the party’s fears that INEC’s current stance could make it impossible to meet critical legal requirements ahead of the elections. The Electoral Act imposes strict timelines on political parties, including a 21-day notice requirement and submission deadlines, which the ADC claims it is unable to meet because INEC is not receiving its correspondence.
ADC highlighted that there is a clear documentary trail indicating its legitimacy. It pointed out that INEC had previously monitored and recognized its leadership structure, attending and documenting its National Executive Committee meeting held on July 29, 2025. These meetings updated INEC’s records to reflect Senator David Mark as the National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as the National Secretary. The party stressed that these are documented facts rather than claims, directly from INEC’s files.
However, despite this established record, INEC has notified the ADC that it will no longer accept any correspondence from the party pending the determination of a matter before the Federal High Court. The ADC argued that by refusing to accept its communications, INEC is hindering its ability to comply with statutory obligations, including the submission deadlines set by the Electoral Act. This stance, according to the statement, creates an “impossible position” for the party, potentially leading to artificial non-compliance and unjustified exclusion from the electoral process.
The ADC urged INEC to reverse its decision and resume accepting lawful correspondence from the party. The organization emphasized the need for INEC to uphold its constitutional responsibility to ensure a level playing field for all political parties. “We 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,” the statement pointed out.
The ADC also warned Nigerians to remain vigilant against attempts to undermine democracy in the country. It described the situation as part of a broader effort to subvert Nigeria’s democratic processes and potentially impose a civilian dictatorship. “We call on Nigerians to remain vigilant and wary of what we consider dangerous machinations to subvert Nigeria’s democracy and impose a civilian dictatorship on the country,” the party urged.
As the 2027 general elections draw closer, it remains to be seen how this developing situation will impact the electoral process. The ADC’s concerns highlight the importance of ensuring that all political parties have equal opportunities to participate, underscoring the need for transparent and fair electoral processes. The forward-looking implications of this issue could significantly shape the political landscape in Nigeria in the run-up to the next elections.
Leave a Comment