ADC Accuses INEC Of ‘Behaving Like A Criminal Organisation’ Over Party Leadership Dispute

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing it of “behaving like a criminal organisation” and taking sides over its handling of the party’s leadership crisis.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the allegation on Thursday while speaking on Arise News Channel’s programme, ‘The Morning Show’, faulting the commission’s decision to suspend official recognition of the party’s leadership.

Recall that, INEC, through its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, had announced the derecognition of Senator David Mark as ADC National Chairman, alongside the National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, and other officials, citing pending court case.

The commission said its action was based on a court order directing it to maintain the status quo pending the determination of a suit filed by a factional chairman, Nafiu Bala, challenging the legality of Mark’s leadership.

However, Abdullahi dismissed Bala’s claim to the position, insisting he no longer has legal standing to act on behalf of the party following his resignation and the dissolution of the executive committee he belonged to.

He maintained that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), as the next highest organ after the convention, had already taken binding decisions on the leadership structure.

Questioning INEC’s actions, Abdullahi alleged that the commission was selectively recognising moves by Bala despite being fully aware of his earlier resignation from his position.

The controversy followed INEC’s removal of the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its official portal, as well as its announcement that it would suspend recognition of all factions within the party pending the outcome of a substantive suit before the Federal High Court.

Speaking further, Abdullahi said: “As of July 17, he was no longer an official of the party, and INEC knew this. So, as I was saying, he has no locus (standi).

“It is a settled matter in court that the issue of leadership is wholly an internal affair of political parties, and the NEC is the next most senior organ of the party, next to the convention.

“The NEC said that the executive that he belonged to, even if he said he did not resign, the executive that he belonged to has been duly dissolved.

“So, on what basis is INEC recognising Bala’s action? Because INEC knew since August 12 that they received a notice of his resignation, he is no longer an official of the party.

“So, on what basis is he being recognised? So recognising Nafiu Bala’s action means that INEC is taking a side.

“What INEC has done effectively is to violate the directive of the Appeal Court, and that is criminal.

“If you are talking about contempt, that is what INEC has done. INEC, today, is behaving like a criminal organisation. And what the Court of Appeal said is to maintain status quo.”