Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is taking actions that could benefit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by creating internal divisions within opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a statement released on Monday through the Atiku Media Office in Abuja, the former presidential candidate accused the electoral commission of compromising its neutrality after reports that a rival faction within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was granted access to INEC’s online portal.
The statement referred to remarks made on July 11, 2026, by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who claims to be the National Chairman of the ADC, announcing that his faction had successfully uploaded the names of its candidates onto the commission’s portal.
According to Atiku’s media office, access to the portal is reserved for recognised political party officials to enable the submission of candidates for the 2027 elections. It argued that such access is issued exclusively by INEC in line with its established procedures.
The statement expressed concern that the commission had neither confirmed nor denied the claim, describing the silence as troubling and inconsistent with its responsibility to maintain transparency in the electoral process.
Atiku’s camp maintained that Senator David Mark remains the legally recognised leader of the ADC and argued that granting portal access to Bala Gombe amounts to official recognition of a faction it considers illegitimate.
It further alleged that the commission’s decision demonstrates bias and undermines confidence in its role as an impartial electoral body.
Drawing comparisons with an earlier controversy involving the electoral commission, the statement claimed that officials under the leadership of Prof. Joash Amupitan previously removed the names of the recognised ADC executives despite an appellate court judgment, describing the development as unlawful and politically motivated.
The former vice president’s media office also questioned the legality of the candidates reportedly submitted by Bala Gombe’s faction, insisting that only nominations originating from the leadership headed by Senator David Mark can be recognised under Nigerian law.
It argued that no political party can have two legally recognised chairmen or operate multiple authorised portals for candidate submissions, warning that allowing such a situation would create confusion and unnecessary disputes within the electoral system.
The statement further alleged that the latest development supports claims that the current leadership of INEC is pursuing actions capable of weakening opposition parties through internal conflicts rather than ensuring a credible democratic process.
Citing constitutional and statutory provisions, Atiku’s office stated that Section 222 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, requires political parties to produce candidates through properly conducted primaries monitored by INEC. It also referenced Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022, which provides that only one validly nominated candidate can be submitted for each elective position.
The statement claimed that the Bala Gombe faction did not conduct legally recognised primary elections and therefore lacked the authority to nominate candidates or access the commission’s portal.
Atiku’s media office concluded by urging the INEC Chairman to remain independent and refrain from actions capable of fueling disputes within the ADC and other opposition parties. It warned that any conduct perceived as favouring one political interest over another could undermine public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general election.
