The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has insisted it will proceed with its planned congresses and national convention despite uncertainties surrounding recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this on Thursday while speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, amid the ongoing leadership dispute within the party.
Abdullahi said the party had already issued INEC the required 21-day notice for its activities, noting that the commission acknowledged receipt of the notice.
He maintained that the ADC would not halt its internal processes regardless of INEC’s position, stressing that the party remains committed to carrying out its congresses and convention as scheduled.
The spokesman also expressed concern over what he described as growing threats to Nigeria’s democracy, warning against attempts to limit political competition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
His comments come following INEC’s decision to remove the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary from its official portal.
The electoral body had further stated that it would not recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is seeking to be declared national chairman through the courts.
He said: “If we’re in a military regime, we can understand it. We are finding ourselves in a situation where everything is being done to ensure that the election in 2027 is a fait acompli, and that the Nigerians will be left with no option or no choice.
We’ve seen how this has ended in the past.
“So we are saying that we will go ahead with our congresses. We have given INEC 21 days notice. They have accepted the notice.
“So whether they come or not, we’ll continue with our congresses, we’ll continue with our convention.
“We are all Nigerians. We can see what is going on. We can see our democracy unraveling before our very eyes.”