Opposition accuse INEC of meddling in ADC internal affairs

By John Alechenu, Abuja

The decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to de-recognize the Senator David Mark leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has attracted scathing criticism from Nigerians.

Former National Chairman of the  Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Chief Peter Ameh described INEC’s action as part of a larger plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the 2027 general elections unchallenged. 

He said, “INEC has removed every vestige of impartiality; it has demonstrated how far it’s prepared to go to do the ruling party’s bidding and destabilize the opposition.

“It is now clear for all to see why politicians are rushing from their parties to join the ruling party. 

“The question to ask President Ahmed Tinubu and his APC is why are you still afraid of a free and fair contest?

“This is a ruling party that claims it has more than 30 state governors, 2/3 majority in the National Assembly, they have all the instruments of coarsen under their control why are they still afraid of a free and fair contest? 

“This whole sordid affair is a battle cry for the opposition. It is either we organise, unite and resist this evil or we perish.”

Speaking in a similar vein, a public affairs commentator, Engr. Obi Njoku, noted that he and several Nigerians of good will had raised alarms over the ruling party’s obsession with the internal processes of political parties, which was displayed during the amendment of the Electoral Act.

According to him, the ruling party’s plot to ambush Nigerians and its attempts to foist a one party state on citizens has almost run full cycle. 

He said, “The recent moves to push through the Electoral Act 2026 represent a calculated, deliberate, and dangerous assault on the foundations of Nigeria’s democracy. 

“Under the guise of ‘sanitizing’ the political process, what is being advanced is not reform, but a strategic attempt to reshape the political landscape in favor of the ruling establishment while weakening all forms of viable opposition.

“Political parties are not government agencies. They are independent institutions with the right to determine their internal processes, guided by their constitutions and ideologies. 

“Any attempt to impose a uniform method of candidate selection across all parties is not only excessive, it is fundamentally undemocratic.

“The persistent focus of the government on how political parties organize themselves raises serious concerns about motive and intent.

“Rather than strengthening democratic competition, these provisions suggest an attempt to control the framework of that competition before it even begins.

“A government confident in its performance does not need to manipulate the rules of engagement. It presents its record and allows the people to decide. 

“When the focus shifts from governance to controlling political processes, it signals a deeper problem – a lack of confidence in public support.”

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