- ADC insisted it would proceed with congresses despite INEC stance
- Bolaji Abdullahi said the party had fulfilled the 21-day notice requirement
- He warned that Nigeria’s democracy was facing growing threats ahead of 2027
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that it will proceed with its planned congresses and national convention despite ongoing uncertainty over its recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made this known on Thursday while speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, amid a deepening leadership dispute within the opposition party.
Abdullahi disclosed that the ADC had already complied with statutory requirements by issuing INEC a 21-day notice ahead of its planned activities. According to him, the electoral commission acknowledged receipt of the notification, reinforcing the party’s decision to go ahead with its internal processes.
He stressed that the ADC would not suspend its congresses or convention regardless of INEC’s current stance, maintaining that the party remains committed to its constitutional responsibilities.
“So whether they come or not, we’ll continue with our congresses, we’ll continue with our convention,” Abdullahi said during the interview.
The ADC spokesperson also raised concerns about what he described as growing threats to Nigeria’s democratic system, warning against actions that could undermine political competition ahead of the 2027 general elections. He suggested that recent developments point to attempts to limit the choices available to Nigerians at the polls.
“If we’re in a military regime, we can understand it. We are finding ourselves in a situation where everything is being done to ensure that the election in 2027 is a fait accompli, and that Nigerians will be left with no option,” he said.
His remarks come in the wake of INEC’s decision to remove the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as the ADC’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, from its official portal.
The electoral body also stated that it would not recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is seeking to be declared national chairman through legal means, further complicating the party’s leadership structure.
Despite these challenges, Abdullahi insisted that the ADC would push forward, emphasising that its actions are guided by democratic principles and the need to preserve political pluralism.
“We are all Nigerians. We can see what is going on. We can see our democracy unravelling before our very eyes,” he added.
The situation continues to highlight tensions between opposition parties and electoral authorities, raising broader questions about the state of internal party democracy and the role of regulatory bodies as Nigeria approaches another crucial election cycle.