The Atiku Media Office has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of unlawfully granting a faction of the African Democratic Congress access to its candidate nomination portal, alleging that the move is aimed at undermining opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the media office claimed that Nafiu Bala Gombe announced he had successfully uploaded the names of candidates from his faction to INEC’s nomination portal, despite the commission recognising the ADC leadership headed by former Senate President David Mark.
The office argued that access to INEC’s candidate nomination portal is reserved for the legally recognised leadership of registered political parties, describing Gombe as a claimant to the ADC national chairmanship without legal authority.
It maintained that only the David Mark-led leadership is authorised to submit candidates to the electoral commission, insisting that any list uploaded by Gombe’s faction lacks legal validity.
The statement also questioned how two individuals could simultaneously claim the position of national chairman of the same political party.
The Atiku Media Office further alleged that Gombe’s faction did not conduct valid party primaries in line with the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act, stressing that only candidates produced by the recognised ADC leadership can lawfully participate in the 2027 elections.
It called on INEC to explain how Gombe allegedly gained access to the candidate nomination portal and urged the commission to refrain from actions capable of fuelling internal crises within opposition parties.
