Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, of allegedly undermining opposition political parties by fueling internal crises, citing the ongoing leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

In a statement issued on Monday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, on behalf of the Atiku Media Office, the former presidential candidate alleged that the electoral commission’s handling of the ADC leadership crisis demonstrates partisan conduct capable of destabilising the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.

Atiku’s allegation followed claims by Nafiu Gombe, who lays claim to the national chairmanship of the ADC, that he had successfully uploaded the names of the party’s candidates to INEC’s nomination portal.

According to Atiku, access to the nomination portal is granted only through codes issued by INEC to recognised political parties as part of the candidate nomination process.

He questioned how Gombe could have accessed the portal despite INEC’s recognition of the Senator David Mark-led National Executive Committee as the legitimate leadership of the ADC.

The former Vice President argued that if the claim is true, it would amount to a violation of the commission’s own guidelines and an indication of political bias.

He further alleged that the commission had previously acted improperly by removing the names of the recognised ADC executives following a court ruling, describing the development as evidence of a deliberate attempt to weaken opposition parties.

Atiku maintained that only the David Mark-led leadership has the legal authority to conduct party primaries and submit candidates for the 2027 elections.

Citing provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act, he insisted that only candidates produced through recognised party primaries and submitted by the legitimate party leadership can be validly recognised by INEC.

He described any purported submission of candidates by the Nafiu Gombe-led faction as unconstitutional, unlawful and of no legal effect.

The former Vice President also urged the electoral commission to avoid actions capable of creating confusion within political parties, warning that such conduct could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

As of the time the statement was issued, INEC had not officially responded to the allegations.

However, the commission has consistently maintained that it operates strictly within the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and its established guidelines.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected allegations by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that it granted a rival faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by Nafiu Gombe, access to its candidate nomination portal.

A senior official of the commission, who spoke on condition of anonymity, maintained that INEC recognises only the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC and never issued portal access codes to Gombe or anyone associated with his faction.

The clarification followed allegations by Atiku’s Media Office accusing the electoral commission of aiding efforts to weaken the opposition by allegedly allowing the rival ADC faction to upload candidates’ names despite officially recognising the David Mark-led National Executive Committee.

Atiku’s camp had also accused INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, of fueling internal crises within opposition parties and working to advance President Bola Tinubu’s political interests ahead of the 2027 general election.

Responding to the allegations, the INEC official described the claims as unfounded, insisting that the commission operates strictly within the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act and its established regulations.

According to the official, INEC’s records clearly recognise Senator David Mark as the National Chairman of the ADC and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s National Secretary.

He stressed that Nafiu Gombe lacks the legal authority to upload candidates’ names to the commission’s portal because he is not recognised by INEC as the party’s chairman.

“The commission did not issue access codes to Nafiu Gombe or any member of his faction. The recognised leadership of the ADC remains that of Senator David Mark. Therefore, any claim that Gombe uploaded candidates’ names through INEC’s portal is false,” the official said.

The commission also dismissed allegations linking its chairman to the internal leadership crisis rocking the ADC, insisting that Prof. Amupitan played no role in the dispute.

According to the official, the conflict is an internal party matter already before the courts, adding that attempts to drag the INEC chairman into the controversy are misplaced and without merit.

Meanwhile, the ADC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, also denied claims that the Gombe-led faction uploaded candidates to the commission’s portal.

The party maintained that only the David Mark-led leadership is recognised by INEC and called on the electoral commission to investigate alleged forgery and the unauthorised use of documents purportedly issued by the commission.

The controversy comes amid an intensifying leadership battle within the ADC following the emergence of Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, developments that continue to generate legal and political disputes ahead of the 2027 general election.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld a Federal High Court judgment restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising state congresses conducted by committees appointed by the David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

In a majority decision of two to one, the three-member appellate panel affirmed the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court, holding that the congresses organised under the caretaker committee were conducted in violation of an existing court order.

Justice Okon Abang, who delivered the lead judgment, held that there was no basis to overturn the restraining order issued by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on April 29.

The appellate court also affirmed the lower court’s decision preventing the caretaker leadership from interfering with the functions and tenure of the party’s duly elected state executive committees.

The court ruled that, under the party’s constitution, the responsibility for conducting state congresses rests with elected state executive committees and not the national caretaker leadership.

Justice Donatus Okorowo agreed with the lead judgment, while Justice Abba Mohammed dissented, maintaining that the dispute was an internal affair of the political party and therefore outside the jurisdiction of the court.

The case originated from a suit filed by several aggrieved members of the ADC, who challenged the legality of committees established by the David Mark-led caretaker committee to conduct state congresses.

The plaintiffs argued that the appointments violated the party’s constitution and maintained that only duly elected party organs possessed the authority to organise congresses at the state level.

In its earlier judgment, the Federal High Court held that the four-year tenure of the ADC’s State Working Committees and State Executive Committees remained valid until properly constituted congresses and a national convention were conducted.

Justice Abdulmalik ruled that neither the 1999 Constitution nor the ADC Constitution empowered the caretaker committee to appoint committees for the purpose of conducting state congresses.

The court further held that although courts generally avoid interfering in the internal affairs of political parties, judicial intervention becomes necessary where constitutional or statutory provisions are allegedly breached.

Affirming the lower court’s decision, the Court of Appeal held that the congresses and national convention conducted by the Mark-led caretaker leadership were null and void, having been carried out in defiance of an existing court order.

The appellate court stressed that where a dispute raises constitutional questions, it ceases to be a mere internal party affair and becomes subject to judicial determination.

Consequently, the court dismissed the appeal filed by the ADC, upheld all the orders of the Federal High Court and awarded a cost of ₦10 million against the party.

The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) for the 2027 general election, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, has named Ibrahim Adamu Bala as his vice-presidential candidate, completing the party’s presidential ticket.

Information available on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal confirms Bala’s nomination.

The 51-year-old politician, who hails from Bauchi State, gives the APM a North-South ticket as the party seeks to expand its political reach ahead of the 2027 polls.

Sources close to the nomination process disclosed that Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed was instrumental in Bala’s emergence, recommending him during consultations aimed at strengthening the party’s support base, particularly across the North-East.

Although Bala’s name has been uploaded to the INEC portal, neither Governor Makinde nor the APM leadership has officially announced his selection.

Makinde declared his presidential ambition on May 14 at a joint rally of his PDP faction and the APM held at Mapo Hall in Ibadan.

The declaration came shortly after both groups signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the PDP South-West Zonal Secretariat, signalling the formation of a political alliance ahead of the 2027 elections.

Addressing supporters at the rally, the Oyo State governor said the alliance would field candidates for all elective offices, from the presidency to the State Houses of Assembly, while urging opposition parties to close ranks in a bid to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.

On May 30, Makinde formally accepted the APM presidential ticket in Ibadan, where he unveiled his vision for the country.

He pledged to implement sweeping reforms to address insecurity, unemployment, hunger and the rising cost of living.

The governor also promised to restructure Nigeria’s security architecture by devolving greater security responsibilities to state governments, arguing that such reforms would improve the nation’s capacity to tackle emerging security threats if elected president.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined an application by human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, seeking a prolonged adjournment in his alleged cyberbullying trial, directing him to proceed with his defence on July 16.

Justice Mohammed Umar turned down the request after counsel to the defendant informed the court that the lead defence lawyer was out of the country and urged the court to postpone proceedings until after its annual vacation.

Counsel for the Department of State Services (DSS) opposed the application, arguing that the matter had suffered several delays at the instance of the defendant.

The prosecution also reminded the court of its earlier order for an accelerated hearing in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

In his ruling, Justice Umar held that granting another lengthy adjournment would defeat the court’s directive for a speedy trial.

He subsequently adjourned the matter to July 16 for the continuation of the defence.

Earlier during the proceedings, defence witness and human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, testified that President Bola Tinubu had publicly affirmed the right of Nigerians to criticise and even insult him as part of democratic freedoms.

Video recordings of the President’s remarks were tendered and played before the court.

However, under cross-examination, Adeyanju admitted that although the President encouraged freedom of expression, he never suggested that individuals who violate the law should be shielded from prosecution.

Sowore is being prosecuted over allegations of cyberbullying President Bola Tinubu in a case instituted by the Department of State Services.

The activist has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and continues to contest the allegations before the court.

The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) for the 2027 general election, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, has named Ibrahim Adamu Bala as his vice-presidential candidate, completing the party’s presidential ticket.

Information available on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal confirms Bala’s nomination.

The 51-year-old politician, who hails from Bauchi State, gives the APM a North-South ticket as the party seeks to expand its political reach ahead of the 2027 polls.

Sources close to the nomination process disclosed that Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed was instrumental in Bala’s emergence, recommending him during consultations aimed at strengthening the party’s support base, particularly across the North-East.

Although Bala’s name has been uploaded to the INEC portal, neither Governor Makinde nor the APM leadership has officially announced his selection.

Makinde declared his presidential ambition on May 14 at a joint rally of his PDP faction and the APM held at Mapo Hall in Ibadan.

The declaration came shortly after both groups signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the PDP South-West Zonal Secretariat, signalling the formation of a political alliance ahead of the 2027 elections.

Addressing supporters at the rally, the Oyo State governor said the alliance would field candidates for all elective offices, from the presidency to the State Houses of Assembly, while urging opposition parties to close ranks in a bid to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.

On May 30, Makinde formally accepted the APM presidential ticket in Ibadan, where he unveiled his vision for the country.

He pledged to implement sweeping reforms to address insecurity, unemployment, hunger and the rising cost of living.

The governor also promised to restructure Nigeria’s security architecture by devolving greater security responsibilities to state governments, arguing that such reforms would improve the nation’s capacity to tackle emerging security threats if elected president.