ADC raises alarm over possible exclusion from 2027 polls by INEC
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised concerns that it may be unable to participate in the 2027 general elections, alleging that actions by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could prevent it from fielding candidates.
The party said INEC’s refusal to accept its correspondence is hindering its ability to meet critical legal requirements, including stipulated notice periods and submission deadlines ahead of the May 10 cut-off.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC argued that the commission’s current position contradicts its previous recognition of the party’s leadership, as reflected in official records and documentation.
The party maintained that INEC had monitored and acknowledged its activities, including its July 29, 2025 National Executive Committee meeting, after which its leadership structure was updated to reflect Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.
According to the ADC, despite this documented history, INEC has now declined to receive any communication from the party pending the outcome of a case before the Federal High Court, a move it described as problematic.
It noted that the Electoral Act imposes strict timelines on political parties, including a 21-day notice requirement and submission deadlines, while INEC has already fixed May 10 as the deadline for compliance.
The party warned that the commission’s refusal to accept its correspondence within this timeframe effectively makes compliance impossible, potentially barring it from presenting candidates for the elections.
ADC described the situation as creating “artificial non-compliance” that could later be used as justification to exclude it from the electoral process, urging INEC to reverse its stance and ensure fairness for all political parties.
