ABUJA The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is mounting pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a bid to interfere in its internal affairs. The opposition party claimed the move is part of a broader plan to destabilise its structure following the recent defection of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
According to the party, the situation extends beyond a routine internal disagreement, raising serious questions about the independence of Nigeria’s electoral umpire at a time when political realignments are beginning to take shape across the country.
The allegations were outlined in a statement issued by the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi. In the statement, he accused individuals within the ruling party of exploiting an ongoing legal dispute as a strategy to weaken the ADC’s leadership and create instability within its ranks.
The ADC linked the alleged pressure campaign to a letter dated March 28, reportedly written by a group of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) acting on behalf of an expelled party member. The letter, addressed to INEC, reportedly urged the commission to act based on a contested interpretation of a Court of Appeal ruling concerning the principle of status quo ante bellum.
In its statement, the party claimed there was a coordinated attempt to influence the leadership of INEC, including its chairman, in order to undermine the current structure of the ADC led by former Senate President David Mark.
The party further argued that the controversy is directly connected to Kwankwaso’s recent move to join the ADC, suggesting that his defection has unsettled the ruling APC and triggered efforts to prevent other prominent political figures from making similar moves.
ADC stated that the development has intensified pressure from top government officials, who it accused of targeting the party in an attempt to halt its growing influence. The party also alleged that the authors of the letter went as far as issuing threats against the INEC chairman, including the possibility of arrest if their demands were not met within a specified timeframe.
According to the ADC, such actions are aimed at compelling INEC to take sides in a matter where no court has issued a directive supporting the claims being advanced. The party maintained that the attempt to manipulate the electoral body through legal and political pressure is both unjustified and dangerous.
Addressing the internal dispute referenced in the letter, the ADC dismissed the claims of a former party member who is challenging its leadership. It insisted that the individual neither held the position he now claims nor remains a recognized member of the party.
The party described any attempt to reinterpret past arrangements in a way that elevates the individual to a leadership role as baseless and misleading. It stressed that such narratives are being deliberately promoted to create confusion and undermine its credibility.
Reaffirming its position, the ADC declared that no amount of pressure or distortion of legal processes would derail its progress. It expressed confidence in its growing support base, noting that more Nigerians are aligning with the party as it positions itself as a credible opposition force.
Finally, the party called on INEC to uphold its constitutional responsibilities by remaining neutral and resisting any external influence. It emphasized that the issue at stake goes beyond party politics, touching on the fundamental right of Nigerians to freely make political choices without interference.
