INEC Says If Courts Don’t Decide Our Leadership By May 10th, We Can’t Present Candidates -ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of deliberately creating administrative obstacles that could stop the party from fielding candidates in the 2027 general elections, according to report by LEADERSHIP on Monday April 6th 2026.

In a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said INEC has informed the party it will not accept any correspondence from the ADC while a leadership dispute is pending before the Federal High Court. The party says that stance conflicts with timelines set by the Electoral Act (2026).

The ADC says INEC’s own records show it received formal notice of the ADC’s July 29, 2025 National Executive Committee meeting, monitored the proceedings, and updated internal files to reflect the new leadership, naming Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.

The party added that INEC’s sworn affidavit filed in the Federal High Court on 12 September 2025 acknowledged the leadership transition and stated that internal party matters are generally outside judicial interference. The ADC says these documents form a clear record supporting its position.

Abdullahi warned that INEC’s refusal to receive communications clashes with statutory requirements, including the 21-day notice and other submission deadlines. He noted that INEC set May 10 as the deadline for submission of relevant documents and argued that refusing correspondence during this period effectively prevents the ADC from complying with the law.

The ADC said it will publish certified INEC records, attendance logs, monitoring reports, and affidavit excerpts to support its claims and called on the public to note the potential consequences if the impasse is not resolved before the electoral deadlines.

According to Abdullahi,

“In simple terms, INEC is effectively threatening that unless the courts deliver judgment on the ADC leadership issue by May 10, it will prevent the ADC from producing candidates.”