ADC Urges INEC To Prosecute Factional Chairman Over Alleged False Candidate Upload Claim

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate and prosecute the party’s factional National Chairman, Nafiu Bala, over claims that he uploaded the party’s candidates to the Commission’s nomination portal.

ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the demand in a statement on Tuesday, describing Bala’s claim as false and urging INEC to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

Bala had claimed that his faction obtained INEC’s access code and successfully uploaded candidates for the 2027 general election on the commission’s portal.

However, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, dismissed the claim, stating that Bala is not recognised by the commission as the ADC’s national chairman and that the document being circulated was not authentic.

Reacting to INEC’s clarification, Abdullahi welcomed the commission’s position and said the matter had gone beyond political rhetoric.

“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomes the prompt clarification by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which unequivocally confirmed that the document circulated by Mr. Nafiu Bala purporting to show that he had obtained the Commission’s access code and uploaded candidates on behalf of the ADC for the 2027 general election was forged, and that the claim itself was entirely false,” he said.

He argued that falsely claiming access to INEC’s restricted nomination portal was a serious offence that warranted investigation by law enforcement agencies.

“The issue before us is no longer simply about the continuous false statements that have been issued by Nafiu Bala Gombe at the behest of his sponsors. It is about the clear and unmistakable attempt to mislead the Nigerian public.

“To publicly claim that one has gained access to INEC’s restricted nomination platform and exercised powers reserved for duly recognised party officials is a grave matter that deserves the immediate attention of law enforcement agencies.”

Abdullahi urged INEC to take all necessary steps to ensure Bala and anyone involved in originating or spreading the claim are investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.