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.
