ADC calls INEC bluff, insists on congresses, convention

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to 'go to hell', insisting it will continue with its scheduled congresses and national convention this month.

Trouble brewed on Wednesday when INEC announced that it will not recognize the David Mark-led leadership of the party nor that of the opposition faction within the party until court determines their fate.

ADC accused INEC of being a pawn in the hands of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while the party Frontline Presidential aspirant, Mr. Peter Obi said that the President administration has become more dictatorial than the military regime of late Sani Abacha that President Bola Tinubu fought against.

Consequently, the ADC on  Friday announced plans to proceed with its congresses and national convention despite warnings from the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan on the consequences of going ahead with the Congress and national convention without a recognized leadership.

INEC had told the ADC that it will will not monitor the congresses and national convention if they insist on going ahead with them.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Chinedu Idigo, and National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party insisted that its activities would go ahead as scheduled.

“This is to notify all party members that despite INEC’s illegal actions, the ADC will continue with its congresses as scheduled, having duly notified INEC by our letters dated 27th February 2026 and 28th March, 2026,” the statement read.

The party outlined its timetable, stating that the screening of aspirants would hold on April 7, followed by appeals on April 8, while polling unit, ward and local government congresses are scheduled for April 9. Appeals on the congresses will hold on April 10, with state congresses fixed for April 11 and appeals on April 12. The national convention is slated for April 14.

The INEC chairman also cautioned that ignoring court orders could have far-reaching consequences, drawing from past electoral experiences.

“Let me tell you what happened in Zamfara. It happened in the past. We don’t want to conduct an election without this early warning, and at the end of the day, after you have won, the court again will come and declare the election invalid. And the implication is that the person with the second highest number of vote will be declared the winner,” INEC chairman said.

Despite the warning, the ADC maintained that it had fulfilled all statutory requirements by notifying INEC of its planned activities and would proceed with its internal processes.