‘We’ll go ahead with congresses, convention’ — ADC defies INEC

The African Democratic Congress said on Thursday that it will go ahead with its planned congresses and national convention across the country despite uncertainty over recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made this known during a television interview while addressing the ongoing leadership issues within the party and recent developments involving the electoral body. He explained that the party had already fulfilled the legal requirement by notifying INEC ahead of the scheduled activities.

He stated that the notice, which covered the planned congresses and convention, was duly submitted within the required timeframe and acknowledged by the commission. Based on this, he said the party sees no reason to suspend or delay its internal processes.

The spokesperson made it clear that the ADC remains determined to carry out its activities as planned, regardless of whether INEC decides to monitor or recognise them. According to him, the party’s internal processes will continue without interruption as preparations for the 2027 general elections progress.

He also raised concerns about the current state of the country’s democratic system, warning that recent developments could affect political competition if not properly handled. He suggested that actions capable of limiting participation by political parties could affect public confidence in the electoral process.

The party’s position follows INEC’s recent move to remove the names of some individuals, including David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, from its official records as leaders of the party. The commission had also declined to recognise another claimant to the leadership position, further deepening the dispute within the ADC.

Amid these developments, the ADC maintained that its focus remains on continuing its activities and preparing its structure for the upcoming elections, insisting that its planned congresses and convention will go on as scheduled.