Abuja, Nigeria — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of attempting to weaken opposition parties, questioning what it described as the ruling administration’s “fear” of a free, fair, and transparent electoral contest.
The party on Thursday in Abuja, led by its National Chairman, David Mark, made the allegations while reacting to recent developments surrounding its internal leadership dispute and the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
ADC challenged the federal government’s commitment to democracy, stating that any administration confident in its performance should not be threatened by credible elections. “If you are convinced that you have done well for the people, why be afraid of a free, fair and transparent electoral contest?” the party queried.
The party further accused INEC of overstepping its constitutional role by allegedly interfering in its internal affairs. According to the ADC, INEC acted prematurely in recognising a disputed leadership faction, rather than awaiting the decision of the Court of Appeal.
Reaffirming its position, the party insisted that the leadership inaugurated during its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on July 29, 2025, remains the legitimate authority, dismissing claims by rival figures as baseless.
ADC warned that INEC’s actions could undermine its participation in upcoming governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti states, as well as disrupt its scheduled party activities, including congresses beginning April 9 and a national convention slated for April 14, 2026.
The party also called for the immediate resignation or removal of the INEC Chairman, alleging loss of confidence in the commission’s ability to conduct credible elections. It maintained that INEC’s role is strictly supervisory, not administrative or managerial, in the affairs of political parties.
Despite the dispute, ADC declared its intention to proceed with all scheduled activities, noting that it had fulfilled legal requirements by duly notifying INEC.
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In a broader appeal, the party called on the international community to closely monitor Nigeria’s electoral process and urged citizens to resist any attempts to impose a one-party system.
Describing the situation as a “defining moment” for the country, ADC urged Nigerians to defend democratic principles, warning that actions perceived to undermine electoral integrity could threaten national stability.
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