Morganable politics/Elections
INEC’s clarification comes amid renewed controversy within the ADC, as internal disputes over leadership and legitimacy continue to shape the party’s preparations for the 2027 polls
kaNo—
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has affirmed that it will recognise only the candidates submitted by the faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President, David Mark, confirming that the group has already uploaded nominees for 471 elective positions ahead of the 2027 general election.
INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this in an interview, stating that the electoral body granted the Mark-led leadership access to its restricted nomination portal based on a subsisting judgment of the Supreme Court, which affirmed the faction’s leadership of the party.
According to Haruna, the recognised leadership has since submitted candidates across key categories, including presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives positions, as political parties intensify preparations for the next general elections.
“Yes, we gave the Mark-led faction the code based on the recent Supreme Court judgment that affirmed his leadership of the party,” Haruna said. “The faction has since submitted most of its candidates for a total of 471-presidential (2), senatorial (109) and House of Representatives (360) constituencies.”
He emphasised that the Supreme Court ruling did not extend recognition to any rival faction within the party, noting that any such group lacked the legal basis to submit candidates or access INEC’s nomination platform.
“The court did not say we should accept any submissions by the rival faction, which, in any case, had lost its appeal for recognition,” he added.
INEC’s clarification comes amid renewed controversy within the ADC, as internal disputes over leadership and legitimacy continue to shape the party’s preparations for the 2027 polls.
ADC Calls For Prosecution Of Rival Faction
In a related development, the ADC has called for the investigation and prosecution of one of its factional figures, Nafiu Gombe, following claims that he uploaded candidates for the party through INEC’s portal-an assertion the commission has dismissed as false.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party welcomed INEC’s clarification and accused Gombe of attempting to mislead Nigerians with what it described as fabricated claims.
The statement noted that INEC had categorically denied granting access codes to Gombe or any rival faction, stressing that only the Mark-led National Executive Committee was recognised by the commission.
“The African Democratic Congress welcomes the prompt clarification by INEC, which unequivocally confirmed that the document circulated by Mr Nafiu Bala purporting to show that he had obtained the commission’s access code and uploaded candidates on behalf of the ADC for the 2027 general election was forged, and that the claim itself was entirely false,” the statement read.
The party argued that the matter had gone beyond internal disagreements and now bordered on a deliberate attempt to deceive the public, warning that such actions could undermine public trust in the electoral process.
“It is about the clear and unmistakable attempt to mislead the Nigerian public,” the party added, calling on relevant authorities to treat the issue with the seriousness it deserves.
“To publicly claim that one has gained access to INEC’s restricted nomination platform and exercised powers reserved for duly recognised party officials is a grave matter that deserves the immediate attention of law enforcement agencies,” the party said.
The development follows earlier allegations by the media office of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, which accused INEC of granting access to the rival faction-an allegation the electoral body has firmly denied.
INEC Reserves Position On Court Ruling
Meanwhile, INEC has said it will reserve its position on the latest ruling by the Court of Appeal concerning the ADC leadership dispute until it obtains and reviews the Certified True Copy of the judgment.
Haruna explained that the commission needed to carefully study the details of the appellate court’s decision before taking any further action, stressing the importance of adhering strictly to judicial pronouncements.
“INEC cannot say anything until we see the judgment. We have to see the details of the judgment first,” he said. “Hopefully, within the next two days, the court should release the judgment. We will study it, and then the commission will take a position.”
The appellate court’s ruling has reignited tensions within the party, even as INEC maintains that its current position is anchored on the earlier Supreme Court judgment, which recognised the Mark-led leadership at the national level.
The Court of Appeal, in a two-to-one decision, upheld the judgment delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who had ruled against the dissolution of the party’s state executives by the Mark-led leadership.
In her April 29 judgment, Justice Abdulmalik held that the dissolution of the ADC’s state leadership structures violated the party’s constitution, noting that the tenure of the affected executives had not expired at the time of their removal.
The suit was instituted by seven aggrieved state chairmen of the ADC, who challenged their dissolution and the subsequent establishment of caretaker committees to oversee party congresses at the state level.
They argued that the actions of the Mark-led leadership deprived them of their statutory roles and contravened the party’s constitution.
The trial court agreed with the plaintiffs, holding that the ADC breached its own rules by dissolving duly elected state executives whose tenure had been extended by four years in 2023.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, the ADC leadership, alongside Rauf Aregbesola and other party officials, approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the decision, arguing that the matter fell within the internal affairs of the party and should not have been entertained by the lower court.
However, the appellate court dismissed the appeal, affirming the trial court’s position and further complicating the party’s internal dynamics.
Despite the ongoing legal tussle, INEC has reiterated that its recognition of the Mark-led leadership remains valid, particularly with respect to the nomination of candidates already submitted for the 2027 elections.
Political analysts say the unfolding developments highlight the complexities of intra-party disputes in Nigeria’s political landscape, where court rulings often play a decisive role in determining leadership legitimacy and electoral participation.
As preparations for the 2027 general election gather momentum, the ADC crisis underscores the importance of internal cohesion within political parties, as well as the critical role of electoral and judicial institutions in maintaining order and credibility in the democratic process.
