By Our Reporter
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is deliberately moving to derecognise the party as part of a broader plan to exclude it from participating in the 2027 general elections, urging the commission to immediately resume official correspondence with its leadership.
In a statement issued Monday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said INEC’s refusal to accept communication from the party risks crippling its ability to meet key electoral requirements, describing the situation as a calculated attempt to sideline the ADC.
The crisis stems from a lingering leadership tussle within the party following the emergence of former Senate President David Mark as national chairman, a move contested by a rival faction led by former deputy national chairman Nafiu Bala. INEC had last week announced it would no longer recognise either faction, citing a March 12 Court of Appeal judgment and a pending case before the Federal High Court.
However, Abdullahi argued that the commission’s position contradicts its earlier actions, noting that INEC had monitored the party’s July 29, 2025 National Executive Committee meeting and subsequently uploaded the names of the new leadership on its portal.
He warned that by refusing to receive correspondence within the timeframe set by the Electoral Act, INEC is effectively placing the ADC in an “impossible position” to field candidates, and called on the commission to reverse course to ensure a level playing field ahead of the 2027 polls.