INEC Aiding Tinubu’s Agenda to Disenfranchise ADC, Opposition Parties — Paul Ibe

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been accused of aiding an alleged agenda by President Bola Tinubu to disenfranchise the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The allegation was made on Monday by Paul Ibe, Media Adviser and Official Spokesman to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in a statement reacting to claims that Nafiu Bala Gombe had successfully uploaded candidates’ names to INEC’s portal.

Ibe alleged that the electoral commission unlawfully granted an access code to Gombe, whom he described as a “pretender” to the national chairmanship of the ADC, despite what he said was INEC’s recognition of the Senator David Mark-led National Executive Committee.

According to him, the uploading of candidates’ names to the commission’s portal is part of the preparations for the 2027 general elections and is only possible through access codes issued by INEC to recognised political parties.

He claimed that although Gombe announced on July 11 that he had uploaded candidates’ names to the portal, INEC had neither confirmed nor denied the development.

“By granting access code to Bala Gombe, a pretender, laying claims to the chairmanship of the ADC, though the law is not on his side and INEC has since validated the chairmanship of the Sen. David Mark-led exco, the electoral umpire is once again manifesting its partisanship,” Ibe said.

He argued that the commission’s action was capable of creating unnecessary confusion within the party.

“The so-called ‘successful’ uploading of ‘candidates’ by Nafiu Bala Gombe is neither grounded in law nor supported by INEC’s own guidelines. Nafiu Bala Gombe is not recognised as ADC Chairman. Mark is duly recognised. Can there be two recognised Chairmen of a political party? Possibly only in an INEC led by Amupitan. Can INEC grant two access codes to a political party? Certainly not,” he added.

Ibe further alleged that the commission’s conduct was “a recipe for crisis” and accused it of weakening opposition parties.

Citing Section 222 of the Constitution and Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), he maintained that only candidates produced through recognised party primaries and submitted by the David Mark-led leadership were valid.

He also described the alleged granting of an access code to Gombe as unconstitutional and unlawful, insisting that any parallel submission of candidates was null and void.

Ibe called on INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to stop what he described as actions capable of creating crises within the ADC and other opposition parties.