ADC Asks INEC to Prosecute Factional Chairman Over Alleged False Candidate Upload Claim

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate and prosecute its factional National Chairman, Nafiu Bala, over claims that he uploaded the party’s candidates to the commission’s nomination portal ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the demand in a statement, accusing Bala of spreading false information and attempting to mislead the public.

Bala had claimed that his faction obtained INEC’s access code and successfully uploaded candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The claim, which circulated widely on social media, suggested that Bala’s faction had completed the nomination process on the commission’s portal.

However, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, dismissed the claim, describing it as false and insisting that Bala is not recognised by the commission as the national chairman of the ADC.

Reacting to INEC’s clarification, Abdullahi welcomed the commission’s position, describing the alleged document circulated by Bala as forged.

“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomes the prompt clarification by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which unequivocally confirmed that the document circulated by Mr. Nafiu Bala purporting to show that he had obtained the Commission’s access code and uploaded candidates on behalf of the ADC for the 2027 general election was forged, and that the claim itself was entirely false,” he said.

The ADC spokesman said the matter had gone beyond the issuance of false statements and had become an attempt to deceive Nigerians.

“The issue before us is no longer simply about the continuous false statements that have been issued by Nafiu Bala Gombe at the behest of his sponsors. It is about the clear and unmistakable attempt to mislead the Nigerian public,” Abdullahi stated.

He argued that falsely claiming access to INEC’s restricted nomination portal was a serious offence that required the attention of law enforcement agencies.

“To publicly claim that one has gained access to INEC’s restricted nomination platform and exercised powers reserved for duly recognised party officials is a grave matter that deserves the immediate attention of law enforcement agencies,” he said.

The ADC therefore urged INEC to ensure that Bala and anyone involved in originating or promoting the alleged false claim are investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

“As a responsible party, the ADC therefore calls on INEC to take all the necessary steps to ensure that Mr. Nafiu Bala and anyone else involved in originating or promoting this falsehood are investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the statement added.