The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that it will recognise only the candidates submitted by the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 general elections, clearing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and 470 other candidates presented by the leadership.
INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, said the commission granted the Mark-led leadership access to its candidate nomination portal following the Supreme Court judgment affirming its leadership of the party.
According to him, the faction has already submitted candidates for 471 elective positions, comprising two presidential candidates, 109 senatorial candidates and 360 House of Representatives candidates.
“Yes, we gave the Mark-led faction the code based on the recent Supreme Court judgment that affirmed his leadership of the party and the faction has since submitted most of its candidates for a total of 471 – presidential (2), senatorial (109) and House of Representatives (360) constituencies,” Haruna said.
“The court, however, did not say we should accept any submissions by the rival faction which, in any case, had lost its appeal for recognition.”
Haruna also said INEC would study the Certified True Copy of Monday’s Court of Appeal judgment before taking an official position on its implications.
“INEC cannot say anything until we see the judgment. We have to see the details of the judgment first. Hopefully, in the next two days, within 48 hours, the court should release the judgment. We will study it, and then the commission will take a position,” he said.
The clarification came after claims by the rival faction led by Nafiu Gombe that it had gained access to INEC’s nomination portal and uploaded candidates for the 2027 elections.
Reacting, the ADC welcomed INEC’s position and accused Gombe of attempting to mislead Nigerians.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the commission had confirmed that the document circulated by Gombe claiming access to the nomination portal was forged.
“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomes the prompt clarification by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which unequivocally confirmed that the document circulated by Mr Nafiu Bala purporting to show that he had obtained the commission’s access code and uploaded candidates on behalf of the ADC for the 2027 general election was forged, and that the claim itself was entirely false,” the statement said.
The party described the alleged false claim as a serious matter and called on INEC and security agencies to investigate and prosecute those involved.
“To publicly claim that one has gained access to INEC’s restricted nomination platform and exercised powers reserved for duly recognised party officials is a grave matter that deserves the immediate attention of law enforcement agencies.
“As a responsible party, the ADC therefore calls on INEC to take all the necessary steps to ensure that Mr Nafiu Bala and anyone else involved in originating or promoting this falsehood are investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the statement added.
The development follows Monday’s Court of Appeal judgment affirming an earlier Federal High Court ruling restraining INEC from recognising state congresses conducted by committees appointed by the David Mark-led caretaker leadership.
However, the ADC insisted that the appellate court’s decision related only to the conduct of ward, local government and state congresses and did not affect the validity of its primary elections or the emergence of its candidates for the 2027 polls.