The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing mounting criticism from political stakeholders and civil society groups following its decision to withdraw recognition of the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Findings of ENigeria Newspaper showed that leading the backlash is the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, which described the move as a calculated “ambush” aimed at sidelining opposition voices. Its leader, Oladipo Olaitan, warned that the timing of INEC’s decision could effectively shut out ADC members from participating in upcoming elections.
“This is an ambush. If members are unable to regularise their status within the stipulated timeframe, they risk being shut out of the electoral process entirely,” Olaitan said.
He further cautioned that the development reflects “a new tactic to push them out of circulation,” urging Nigerians not to accept such moves.
He clarified that while current legal proceedings would further postpone resolution until after registration deadlines, impacted members might not be able to join another party without breaking election regulations. He also warned that such moves could jeopardize democratic participation and claimed that the development is part of a larger plan to weaken opposition parties.
Similarly, political economist Pat Utomi raised alarm over what he described as a broader plan to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections. Utomi, who spoke at a press briefing in Lagos, accused INEC and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of working in concert to suppress democratic competition.
“Everybody will be surprised that this is a progression towards one-man rule. Not even the APC rule,” Utomi said.
“Eventually, all these APC characters running around would be decimated, and Bola Tinubu would be Hitler. That is really the goal, it is his nature, it is what he is pursuing,” he added.
A coalition, the Movement for Credible Elections, echoed similar concerns, describing INEC’s decision as “a malicious attempt to decapitate the ADC and the opposition in general.” The group further alleged a pattern of interference in opposition parties.
“We have been witnesses to how INEC, in conjunction with a section of the judiciary and agents of the Tinubu government, emasculated the Labour Party and later destroyed the Peoples Democratic Party to inflict a one-man rule agenda on Nigeria,” the group stated.
In strong terms, it added that INEC has shown that it is not independent as the commission’s actions are capable of disenfranchising and excluding legitimate presidential contestants and political parties from the next election cycle.
“It (INEC) is but a gang of electoral bandits, whose sole mandate is to make Bola Ahmed Tinubu the sole presidential contestant in the 2027 elections,” the group’s statement added.
Adding to the growing criticism, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) also faulted INEC’s handling of the ADC leadership crisis. The council described the removal of key figures, including David Mark, from INEC’s official records as premature and destabilising.
“The reported removal of the names appears premature and capable of creating avoidable instability within the polity,” IPAC said.
The committee cautioned that such acts could create a concerning precedent and erode trust in the electoral umpire’s impartiality.
IPAC further cautioned against the timing of the proposed voter revalidation exercise, stating that introducing it alongside existing electoral obligations could “risk disenfranchising millions of eligible voters” if not properly managed.
While INEC cited a court order mandating the preservation of the status quo within the ADC, stakeholders across the board contend that its interpretation and execution of that mandate have sparked widespread concerns about justice, timeliness, and the future of democratic participation in Nigeria.
Calls for openness and moderation are mounting as tensions increase, with many cautioning that if the issue is not handled correctly, Nigeria’s democratic process may lose its credibility.
