The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate investigation, arrest and prosecution of Nafiu Bala Gombe over what it described as the circulation of forged documents and false claims relating to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s candidate nomination portal.
The party’s demand followed INEC’s public dismissal of Gombe’s claim that he had obtained the commission’s access code and uploaded candidates for the 2027 general election on behalf of the ADC.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said INEC’s clarification confirmed that the document circulated by Gombe was forged and his claims were entirely false.
According to the party, the matter has gone beyond political misinformation and now constitutes a serious attempt to undermine the integrity and credibility of Nigeria’s electoral management body.
The ADC argued that falsely claiming access to INEC’s restricted nomination portal and presenting forged documents as authentic amounts to a criminal act capable of eroding public trust in the country’s electoral process.
It therefore urged INEC to refer the matter to relevant law enforcement agencies for a thorough investigation and prosecution of everyone involved in originating or promoting the alleged falsehood.
The party warned that failure to hold those responsible accountable could create a dangerous precedent, encouraging others to fabricate similar claims capable of causing political tension and weakening confidence in democratic institutions.
The statement stressed that the issue extends beyond the ADC, insisting that it concerns the protection of public institutions and the preservation of confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
The opposition party further maintained that INEC must treat the incident as a direct attack on its institutional integrity, noting that the commission’s response would demonstrate its commitment to defending the credibility of the nation’s electoral process.
ADC reaffirmed its commitment to democratic principles, respect for institutions and peaceful political competition, while expressing confidence that the relevant authorities would take decisive action to ensure that deliberate misinformation and document forgery do not become acceptable features of Nigeria’s democracy.
