The African Democratic Congress has accused a faction led by Nafiu Bala Gombe of fabricating electoral commission documents to falsely claim they uploaded a presidential candidate and running mate to the Independent National Electoral Commission's nomination portal.
The party's national publicity secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed the reported upload as a hoax in a statement released on Wednesday. He said only the leadership recognised by INEC can access the Commission's nomination system.
Abdullahi told reporters the ADC was formally notifying INEC of what it believes amounts to document forgery and unauthorised use of the electoral body's name. "The development is capable of creating confusion and undermining public confidence in INEC's integrity and reputation as Nigeria's electoral umpire," he said.
The party argued the claim doesn't withstand basic scrutiny. INEC neither grants portal access nor issues nomination codes to leadership it doesn't officially recognise, the ADC stated.
"The Commission will not issue two codes to the same party. Otherwise, every impostor would simply upload names to the portal and proclaim themselves the authentic leadership," the statement read.
The ADC challenged those behind the claim to produce evidence of the purported upload. The party described the report as another scheme designed to sow doubt among ordinary Nigerians.
"Even as ridiculous as this claim appears, it is nothing more than another attempt to create confusion," Abdullahi noted.
The ADC insisted there is no leadership dispute within its ranks. The leadership recognised by INEC has concluded its nomination process in compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines, it said.
The party reaffirmed that details of its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (GCON), and vice-presidential candidate, Rt. Hon.
Rotimi Amaechi (CON), have already been submitted to INEC's portal. "Those are the facts," Abdullahi said.
The ADC acknowledged that more distractions may come as the 2027 general election draws nearer. However, it vowed not to be sidetracked from its core mission.
"Our focus remains firmly on presenting Nigerians with a credible alternative," the party's statement concluded.
