Atiku attacks Amupitan, accuses INEC for destroying opposition parties over access code to factional ADC leader

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, of deliberately weakening opposition parties by fuelling internal crises, following reports that the electoral commission granted an access code to a factional leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

In a statement issued on Monday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku alleged that INEC’s actions, if confirmed, amounted to partisanship and were aimed at destabilising the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The allegation followed claims by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who describes himself as the National Chairman of the ADC, that he had successfully uploaded the names of the party’s candidates to INEC’s portal.

Atiku said the upload process was possible only through access codes issued by INEC to recognised political parties, questioning why Gombe was allegedly granted such access despite the commission’s earlier recognition of the Senator David Mark-led national executive.

According to him, INEC had neither confirmed nor denied Gombe’s claim, creating uncertainty over the commission’s handling of the party’s leadership dispute.

“By granting access code to Bala Gombe, a pretender… the electoral umpire is once again manifesting its partisanship,” Atiku said, alleging that the commission had acted contrary to the law and its own guidelines.

He further claimed that INEC had previously removed the names of the David Mark-led executive from its records, describing the move as unlawful.

Atiku argued that Gombe’s alleged upload of candidates was invalid because he was not the recognised chairman of the party.