The Strategic Alliance for National Development (STAND) has called on the Attorney General of the Federation and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently resolve the legal and leadership disputes within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and all other opposition political parties. The group warned that failure to act decisively could disenfranchise millions of Nigerians and undermine the integrity of the democratic process.
In an urgent statement, STAND said the administrative and judicial bottlenecks surrounding the ADC’s internal affairs have created “dangerous uncertainty,” with potential implications for the ability of the party to participate effectively in the electoral process.
STAND also alleged a “triple-threat” conspiracy involving elements of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Judiciary, and INEC, warning that opposition parties could be trapped in prolonged litigation and structural disarray. The group said the silence of the Attorney General and INEC in the face of conflicting court actions has resulted in a vacuum that, in its view, benefits the “status quo.”
“We are witnessing what appears to be a calculated attempt to use legal technicalities to sideline a viable alternative for the Nigerian people,” said Yinka Sotade, Acting National Secretary of STAND. “When the electoral umpire and the chief law officer of the federation remain silent while a major political party is hamstrung by conflicting court orders, it creates a vacuum that only serves the interests of the status quo.”
STAND expressed deep concern about the risk of mass disenfranchisement, stating that any situation that prevents a political party from fielding candidates or fully participating in elections is an assault on citizens’ right to choose their leaders. The group said the ADC and other opposition parties represent the aspirations of millions of youths, professionals, and grassroots voters, and that engineered obstacles to participation would strip citizens of their political voice.
The alliance also criticised what it described as judicial weaponization, noting that it has observed conflicting signals from the courts that it said have stalled the ADC’s ability to function. It urged the Attorney General to ensure that the justice system is not used as an instrument for political exclusion.
On INEC, STAND said the commission must rise above the fray and provide a clear and lawful roadmap for the ADC and other opposition political parties, rather than allowing any party to be swallowed by administrative silence.
STAND warned that gross injustice within a “seemingly tailored justiciable system” could lead to anarchy, adding that Nigerians would not tolerate backroom arrangements and judicial maneuvers that narrow democratic options. It said the influence of the ruling party over the process is too prominent to ignore and that silence by regulatory bodies is becoming increasingly evident.
The group demanded that the Attorney General and the INEC Chairman convene an immediate stakeholders’ session to clarify the legal standing of the ADC and ensure that no Nigerian voter is robbed of their voice due to engineered internal crises. STAND said the meeting should also extend to all political parties as soon as possible.
In conclusion, STAND said the stability of Nigeria depends on a fair, inclusive, and transparent electoral landscape, and that it will continue to monitor the situation closely while mobilizing civil society to protect the sanctity of the ballot.
