The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of mounting pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a bid to interfere in its internal affairs, following the defection of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to the party.
The opposition party described the situation as more than an internal disagreement, warning that the alleged actions raise concerns about the independence of the electoral body at a time when political realignments are intensifying.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC alleged that influential figures within the ruling party are exploiting an ongoing legal dispute to weaken its leadership.
The party linked the development to a March 28 letter reportedly written by a group of Senior Advocates of Nigeria on behalf of an expelled member, urging INEC to act on a contested interpretation of a Court of Appeal ruling regarding status quo ante bellum.
“African Democratic Congress, ADC, has observed a coordinated attempt to pressure the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, to destabilise the David Mark-led leadership of the party,” ADC said.
The party further tied the alleged pressure to Kwankwaso’s recent defection, suggesting it has unsettled the ruling party and triggered efforts to stem further high-profile exits.
It said; “The decision of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to join our party has understandably sent jitters through the ruling party. Since then, top officials within the federal government have renewed their onslaught against our party, in a bid to discourage other high-profile figures.
“In the said letter, the writers even went ahead to threaten the INEC chairman with arrest if he does not grant their request within seven days.
“Obviously, what the authors of this vexatious letter are attempting to do is to pressure INEC to take sides and grant them what no court in Nigeria has granted.”
Addressing the internal dispute, the ADC dismissed claims by a former party figure challenging its leadership, insisting the individual neither held the position he now claims nor remains a member of the party.
The party said: “For the avoidance of doubt, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is claiming to be aggrieved over the ADC leadership, was never the chairman of ADC.
“Any attempt to recreate a ‘status quo’ that upgrades his position to national chairman of ADC at any point in time is, at best, fictitious.
“No amount of pressure, no manufactured confusion, and no distortion of legal processes will stop what is already in motion. The ADC is growing. Nigerians are joining. A credible opposition is taking shape.”
Reaffirming its stance, the party urged INEC to resist any form of interference and uphold its constitutional role.
“We call on INEC to remain guided by the constitution, resist all forms of pressure, and uphold its duty as an impartial umpire.
“This is bigger than the ADC. It is about whether Nigerians can freely choose a different path. And that must not be compromised,”
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