ADC and Peter Obi Camp Allege Institutional Sabotage Ahead of 2027 Polls; INEC Maintains Silence

LAGOS — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing a wave of allegations from opposition quarters, with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the media office of Mr. Peter Obi accusing the umpire of systemic sabotage designed to exclude key contenders from the 2027 general elections.

Despite these escalating accusations and a 72-hour ultimatum issued by the ADC youth wing, the commission has yet to issue an official response.

ADC Decries Administrative "Landmines"

In a strongly worded statement, ADC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi alleged that INEC is deploying "administrative landmines" to prevent the party from fielding candidates. The core of the dispute involves INEC’s recent decision to cease all correspondence with the ADC, citing a pending matter before the Federal High Court.

The ADC argues this stance is a tactical maneuver to force the party into non-compliance with the Electoral Act (2026).

The ADC's Argument:

• Contradictory Records: The party claims INEC’s own internal logs and a prior sworn affidavit from September 2025 recognized the Senator David Mark-led National Executive Committee (NEC).

• The "Time Trap": INEC has set a May 10 deadline for candidate document submissions. By refusing to accept correspondence now, the ADC claims INEC is making it legally impossible for them to meet mandatory notice periods.

• Judicial Interference: The ADC contends that by shifting its stance while the matter is in court, INEC is "undermining the very judicial process it claims to protect."

Obi Camp Alleges APC Plot

Simultaneously, the media office of Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, alleged a coordinated effort by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to block Obi from the 2027 ballot.

Spokesman Ibrahim Umar claimed that internal crises within the Labour Party were "deliberately injected" by government infiltrators. He further alleged that recent legislative amendments to the Electoral Act and the delisting of the ADC leadership—a party Obi recently aligned with—were specifically targeted at dismantling Obi’s political platform.

The APC Response: Mr. Abimbola Tooki, Special Adviser to APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, dismissed the claims as baseless.

"They blame APC for every problem they have," Tooki stated. "They should go and quench the fire in their house and leave APC out of it. INEC didn’t set different rules for the APC."

Youth Wing Issues 72-Hour Ultimatum

The ADC’s youth wing, led by Balarabe Rufa’i, has upped the ante by demanding the immediate resignation of the INEC Chairman. The group issued a 72-hour ultimatum for the commission to restore the David Mark-led leadership to its official portal.

Should the commission fail to act, the wing threatened nationwide "civic resistance," including the occupation of INEC offices across all 36 states and the FCT. They also cautioned the military to remain neutral, emphasizing that the dispute is a strictly civil and constitutional matter.

Civil Society Warns of "Democratic Backsliding"

The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani, expressed grave concern over the developments, warning that INEC’s conduct could truncate Nigeria's democracy.

"INEC’s move has automatically created a deep crisis in our democratic consolidation," Rafsanjani noted. He stressed that in a multi-party system, the umpire must remain an enabler of participation rather than a barrier, warning that the current trajectory could erode international confidence in Nigeria's electoral integrity.