By Ayomide Otitoju
The Katsina State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its handling of the party’s leadership dispute, describing the commission’s interpretation of a recent Court of Appeal ruling as “mischievous and wrong.”
The State Chairman of the party, Alhaji Lawal Tukur Batagarawa, made the remarks during a press briefing at the party’s campaign office in Katsina.
Batagarawa alleged that INEC removed the party’s leadership from its portal based on a misinterpretation of the court judgment, which stemmed from an internal leadership tussle. He explained that the party’s national leadership, in consultation with its legal team, had resolved to challenge the commission’s position in court.
Despite the development, he said the party would not be distracted from its preparations for the 2027 general elections. He confirmed that all scheduled activities, including ward, local government and state congresses, as well as the national convention slated for April 14, 2026, would proceed as planned.
The state chairman added that the Katsina chapter remains aligned with the party’s national leadership and would continue preparations accordingly, noting that a meeting had been scheduled for Tuesday to finalise arrangements ahead of the congresses.
Batagarawa maintained that the Court of Appeal ruling upheld the status quo in the leadership dispute but accused INEC of wrongly using it to justify suspending the party’s leadership structure.
He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to ongoing political activities nationwide and commended the national leadership for taking decisive steps on the matter.
