ABUJA — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged a coordinated attempt by the Federal Government to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission to interfere in its internal affairs following the defection of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to the party.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, the ADC, through its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, claimed that the move was aimed at destabilising the party and weakening its growing influence as an opposition platform.
The party said Kwankwaso’s entry had unsettled the ruling establishment, triggering what it described as renewed pressure on the electoral umpire to undermine its leadership structure.
According to the statement, a letter dated March 28, purportedly written by a group of Senior Advocates of Nigeria on behalf of an expelled member, is being used to push INEC to invalidate decisions taken by the party before the courts reach a final verdict.
ADC described the move as an attempt to force the commission to take sides in an ongoing legal dispute, including calls to nullify party meetings and alter its leadership.
“The decision of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to join our party has understandably sent jitters through the ruling party. Since then, there has been a renewed onslaught aimed at discouraging other high-profile defections,” the statement said.
The party insisted that the individual at the centre of the dispute, identified as Nafiu Bala Gombe, was never its national chairman and had since resigned and been expelled from the party.
It warned that any effort to impose leadership changes outside due legal process would be resisted.
ADC further called on INEC to remain neutral and act strictly within the provisions of the Constitution.
“This is not just about our party, but about the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy and the right of citizens to freely choose their political direction,” the statement added.
The development comes amid shifting political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition parties seeking to consolidate their positions.
