The opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) has insisted it will proceed with its planned congresses and national convention, regardless of the stance taken by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its internal leadership crisis.
Speaking during a television interview on Thursday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ADC had formally notified INEC of its plans, giving the required 21 days’ notice, which he claimed the commission acknowledged. He maintained that the party would go ahead with its activities whether or not INEC officials were present.
INEC, however, recently withdrew recognition from all factions within the ADC following a ruling by the Court of Appeal and the ongoing legal tussle over the party’s leadership. In a statement, the commission’s spokesperson, Mohammed Haruna, said INEC would preserve the existing leadership structure as it stood before the dispute was filed on 2 September 2025, pending the outcome of the case before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
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Haruna explained that the decision aligned with the directive of the Court of Appeal, which ordered all parties involved to maintain the status quo until the substantive suit is resolved.
Meanwhile, security was heightened around INEC’s headquarters on Zambezi Crescent in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday. A combined team of military, police, and intelligence operatives was deployed to the area to prevent a possible clash between rival protest groups.
Personnel from the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the State Security Service (SSS) were seen monitoring the situation and controlling movement in and out of the commission’s premises.
