By Ayomide Otitoju
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised concerns that recent actions by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may prevent the party from participating in the 2027 general elections.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said INEC’s refusal to receive its correspondence makes it difficult to meet statutory obligations, including submission of documents and compliance with notice periods ahead of the May 10 deadline.
The party argued that INEC had previously engaged with and recognised its leadership, including the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on July 29, 2025, which the Commission attended. INEC subsequently updated its records to reflect Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.
“The current refusal to accept our communications is inconsistent with verified INEC records and constitutes artificial non-compliance, which could be used to bar our participation in the elections,” the party said.
The ADC warned that unless a court ruling on its leadership dispute is delivered before May 10, it may be unable to field candidates. The party called on INEC to resume accepting lawful correspondence and ensure fairness for all political parties.
INEC explained that its withdrawal of recognition from the David Mark-led NWC is based on a subsisting court judgment and the commission’s constitutional mandate, pending final judicial clarity due to ongoing internal litigation.
The ADC rejected INEC’s move, accusing the electoral body of bias and interference in its internal affairs, and said the decision undermines internal democracy.
