The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed allegations leveled by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who claimed the electoral body granted a rival faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) unauthorized access to its candidate nomination portal.

Core Denial and Leadership Recognition

A senior INEC official speaking on the condition of anonymity clarified that the commission does not recognize Nafiu Gombe or his faction. According to internal records and the established legal framework, INEC exclusively recognizes the ADC National Executive Committee led by Senator David Mark as National Chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.

The commission stated unequivocally that neither Gombe nor his associates were issued access codes to upload candidate names, rendering any claims of successful submissions mathematically and procedurally impossible. Furthermore, INEC emphasized that it operates strictly under the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, and its own internal regulations, steering clear of internal party politics.

Defence of INEC Leadership

The electoral body also strongly rejected accusations aimed at its chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan. Atiku’s media office had previously accused Amupitan of fueling internal opposition crises to favor President Bola Tinubu’s political interests for the 2027 general election.

In response, the senior official labeled these claims as entirely baseless. The official noted that the commission's leadership is not involved in the ongoing litigation or internal friction within the ADC, advising the aggrieved parties to focus on resolving their internal disputes rather than shifting blame onto the electoral umpire.

ADC Response and Call for Investigation

The mainstream leadership of the ADC has aligned with INEC's position. The party's spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, released a statement denying that any rival group had successfully uploaded nominee names to the official portal.

To resolve the matter definitively, the ADC leadership has urged INEC to launch an investigation into the rival faction for alleged forgery and the unauthorized use of documents. This internal leadership tussle intensifies as various political factions adjust their alignments in anticipation of the 2027 general elections.