The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has issued a stark warning to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over its ongoing leadership crisis and plans to hold a convention without the commission’s approval.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, Prof. Amupitan emphasized that political parties must comply with legal and procedural requirements in conducting their internal activities. He stated that failure to do so could have serious consequences, including being denied recognition of electoral victories.
Citing the example of the Zamfara State elections, the INEC chairman noted that past irregularities in party primaries had led to victories being awarded to runners-up rather than the original winners, highlighting the risks of non-compliance.
“Political parties cannot claim ignorance of the law. Any convention or internal process that violates court rulings or INEC guidelines could nullify their electoral gains, regardless of the outcome of the election,” Prof. Amupitan said.
The warning comes amid rising tensions within the ADC, whose leadership under David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola has been derecognized by INEC following a Court of Appeal directive to maintain the status quo within the party.
Prof. Amupitan stressed that the commission’s role is not to interfere in party affairs but to ensure compliance with the law, prevent electoral disputes, and safeguard the integrity of upcoming elections.
The ADC, however, has rejected INEC’s derecognition, claiming that the commission lacks authority to dictate its internal processes, signaling a potential standoff ahead of the 2027 general elections.
