The African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Enugu State has challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over the participation of its candidates in the 2027 general elections.
The party made its position known on Friday through a statement issued by its media team, accusing the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Chukwuemeka Chukwu, of attempting to prevent some of its House of Assembly candidates from taking part in the election.
The statement, signed by Paul Anigbogu on behalf of the Enugu ADC media team, said the party’s governorship candidate, Chief Ocho Obodoeze, remained its candidate for the 2027 election.
The party also maintained that the names of its House of Assembly candidates had been properly submitted and uploaded on the INEC portal after the required nomination processes were completed.
ADC argued that INEC could not prevent candidates who had been properly nominated by their political party from contesting an election.
The party based its position partly on a Court of Appeal judgment delivered in Abuja on August 13, 2026, which it said limited INEC’s ability to stop a properly nominated candidate from participating in an election.
According to the party, the appellate court had upheld the nomination of Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola as the governorship candidate of the Kabiru Taminu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State.
ADC said the court also directed INEC to include the PDP logo on the ballot for the Osun governorship election.
The Enugu chapter argued that the judgment showed that administrative issues should not be used to prevent a candidate who had fulfilled the legal requirements from contesting an election.
The party said it had conducted its primaries and submitted its candidates through the required process, adding that INEC had accepted the governorship and House of Assembly nominations.
ADC further accused the Enugu REC and his officials of giving false information about the status of its candidates.
The party said it believed ADC had become a strong political force in Enugu and alleged that attempts were being made to distract its members ahead of the 2027 elections.
It maintained that it would remain focused on its political campaign and its plan to challenge the current administration in the state.
The party’s position comes as political parties across the country continue preparations for the 2027 general elections, with disputes over candidate nominations and electoral procedures expected to remain part of the political process.