Alleged Commission’s Approval, Update of Candidate Lists Created by Bala-Gombe
The 2027 African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of conspiring with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to frustrate opposition as it alleged upload of candidates for the 2027 General election by the factional leader of the party, Nafiu Bala-Gombe.
Bala-Gombe was alleged to have on Friday announced successful upload of the name of his faction’s candidate on INEC portal despite not being recognised by the commission.
This was made known in a statement issued on Monday by the Atiku Media Team.
The former Vice President questioned INEC’s silence over Bala-Gombe’s claims.
“On 11 July 2026, Nafiu Bala Gombe who parades himself as National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) issued a statement that he has succeeded in uploading the names of his candidates on the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The uploading of the names of candidates on INEC portal is part of the process of the 2027 General Elections made possible by the granting of access codes to political parties in line with the umpire’s guidelines.
“Meanwhile, INEC has been mum and has not denied or confirmed this obvious contradiction to the law and its own guidelines.” He wrote.
Atiku held that INEC’s grant of access code to Bala-Gombe despite its recognition of the David Mark-led National Working Committee as the leaders of the party.
He accused INEC of partisanship while reitrating that Bala-Gombe is not a recongise lader development.
“By granting access code to Bala Gombe, a pretender, laying claims to the chairmanship of the ADC, though the law is not on his side and INEC has since validated the chairmanship of the Sen. David Mark-led exco, the electoral umpire is once again manifesting its partisanship.
“This was the same thing that the Prof Joash Amupitan-led INEC did when it illegally removed the names of the duly recognised ADC exco following the judicial rascality of Justice Lifu in ignoring a superior ruling of an appelate court.
“The so-called “successful” uploading of “candidates” by Nafiu Bala Gombe is neither grounded in law or supported by INEC’s own guidelines.
“Nafiu Bala Gombe is not recognised as ADC Chairman. Mark is duly recognised.
“Can there be two recognised Chairmen of a political party? Possibly only in an INEC led by Amupitan. Can INEC grant two access codes to a political party? Certainly not.” He wrote.
Atiku thereafter accused the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, of plot to weaken the opposition parties at the advantage of the APC.
“What INEC has done is a recipe for crisis and confirms that Prof Joash Amupitan was appointed to enable the weakening of the opposition parties by creating crisis even where none exists.
“We wish to remind Prof Joash Amupitan’s INEC that Section 222 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) provides that candidates of a political party must emerge through recognized party primaries supervised by INEC.
“Section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended) stipulates that political parties must conduct primaries and submit only one validly nominated candidate per elective office to INEC.” He said.
Atiku maintained that Bala-Mohammed did not hold any primaries and not legally recognised by INEC, rendering his access the commission’s portal as unconditional.
“Nafiu Bala Gombe and his criminal gang did not conduct any primaries.
“The INEC granting of access code to Nafiu Bala Gombe is unconstitutional and unlawful.
“The only submitted candidates known to the law are those of David Mark. Any parallel submission such as Nafiu Bala Gombe’s is null and void.” The ex-Vice President held.
He charged Amupitan to quit formenting crisis in the ADC and the other opposition parties in what he considered alleged helping of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda of total state capture.