ADC Holds State Congresses, Asks INEC To Heed NBA’s Caution On Party Issues

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the courts to heed the Nigerian Bar Association’s position on internal party matters, saying the law was being violated in the ongoing dispute over its leadership.

The party also called for the immediate resignation of the INEC chairman, Professor Amupitan, over allegations linking him to a pro-Bola Tinubu tweet in 2023.

In a statement issued by its national publicity secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the NBA’s intervention as a validation of its long-held position that courts lack jurisdiction over internal affairs of political parties.

The ADC said the NBA’s warning against the abuse of court processes and forum shopping confirmed that the legal action challenging its leadership is fundamentally defective.

“The NBA’s position is clear and unambiguous: courts have no jurisdiction over the internal affairs of political parties, and any attempt to secure interim or interlocutory orders in such matters violates the Electoral Act,” the statement read.

The party alleged that the ongoing legal challenge was not a legitimate dispute but a calculated attempt to manipulate the judicial process for political purposes.

According to the ADC, such actions reflect a broader effort to weaken opposition platforms ahead of the 2027 general elections, amid what it described as mounting governance challenges, including insecurity, economic instability, rising unemployment, and declining public trust.

It stressed that any court orders obtained in violation of the law, as well as actions taken based on such orders, are invalid and cannot stand.

The party also expressed concern over what it termed persistent attempts by “nefarious actors” to involve the courts in matters expressly excluded by statute, warning that such actions risk creating confusion around its leadership.

Commending the NBA for its stance, the ADC said the association’s call for disciplinary measures against erring legal practitioners and judicial officers underscored the gravity of the situation.

The party, therefore, called on INEC to take note of the NBA’s position and avoid any actions that could legitimise what it described as unlawful judicial interference.

“INEC must remain a neutral arbiter, not a participant in political engineering,” the statement added.

The ADC further warned that Nigeria’s democracy would be at risk if legal provisions are ignored, institutions are pressured, and judicial processes are manipulated to achieve predetermined political outcomes.

It maintained that the issue extends beyond the party, stressing that it concerns the integrity of the country’s democratic system.

The party reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing all lawful means to defend its leadership and protect democratic principles.

In a related development the party called for the immediate resignation of the INEC Chairman, Professor Amupitan, over allegations linking him to a pro-Bola Tinubutweet in 2023.

Abdullahi, in a separate statement, described the development as a serious threat to the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system.

However, INEC has denied that its chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, owns or has ever operated a personal account on X, formerly Twitter.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser, Adedayo Oketola, on Friday, the INEC boss described the allegation as “entirely baseless, a total fabrication, and a figment of the imagination of its purveyors.”

The statement reads, “The INEC Chairman does not own or operate any personal account on X.”

Abdullahi said, nonetheless, said “The recent revelation linking a pro-Bola Ahmed Tinubu tweet of 2023 to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Amupitan, is not merely disturbing; it is a grave affront to the integrity of our electoral system.”

He stressed that neutrality is the cornerstone of electoral credibility, warning that any perception of bias undermines public trust.

“In a democracy, the umpire must be above suspicion. He must not only be independent, he must be seen, beyond any reasonable doubt, to be independent. That is the minimum standard required of anyone entrusted with the sacred duty of conducting free and fair elections,” he stated.

The ADC further alleged attempts to alter digital records linked to the controversy, describing such actions as deeply troubling.

“More troubling is the desperate attempt to tamper with digital records, to erase evidence of his previous partisanship. This is not a trivial matter. It is a calculated assault on truth and accountability,” Abdullahi said.

According to him, such conduct raises serious concerns about the chairman’s ability to oversee credible elections.

“A man who manipulates records to save himself cannot be trusted to safeguard the mandate of millions,” he added.

The party maintained that recent revelations, including what it described as “incontrovertible digital evidence,” show that the INEC chairman has fallen short of the standards required of his office.