INEC issues warning to ADC on there planned Convention

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a strong warning to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over its decision to proceed with its planned congress and convention despite existing court orders restraining such actions.

INEC cautioned that ignoring these court directives could result in serious legal consequences, including the possible disqualification of the party from upcoming elections.

Speaking in an interview on Arise News, INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, emphasized that the commission is already involved in the ongoing legal case, having been sued by a member of the ADC. He stressed that the court had clearly directed all parties—including David Mark—to avoid any actions that could escalate the dispute.

He explained that if the ADC chooses to proceed with its congress or convention, it must carefully consider whether doing so would violate the ruling of the Court of Appeal. According to him, INEC’s stance is based strictly on court orders and not on arbitrary decisions.

Yakubu further noted that the issue of the party’s congress and convention is already part of the matters before the court. Taking action before a final ruling, he warned, could undermine the judicial process.

Citing past examples, he referenced cases in Zamfara State and Plateau State, where political parties suffered setbacks after failing to comply with court orders. In such situations, courts nullified election victories and declared candidates with the next highest votes as winners.

He reiterated that while the ADC is free to act, INEC will not take any steps—such as monitoring the convention—that could conflict with ongoing court proceedings.

Earlier in the week, INEC announced the suspension of recognition for the ADC faction led by David Mark, citing a court ruling. The commission also removed the names of the party’s leaders from its official portal, replacing them with the note “By court order.”

In response, the ADC called for the resignation of the INEC Chairman, accusing the commission of bias and undermining Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections. The party alleged that INEC was aligning with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), claiming this had damaged its credibility to conduct free and fair elections.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, David Mark criticized INEC’s decision and declared that the party had lost confidence in the commission’s leadership. He insisted that the ADC would continue its internal activities within the law and urged the international community to closely monitor Nigeria’s electoral developments, warning that the situation could threaten democratic stability.