The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has debunked reports claiming that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved and published a list of the party’s state chairmen across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
In a statement on Sunday, the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the report as “fake news” designed to sow confusion within the ADC. He stressed that the ratification of state leadership remains an internal party affair guided strictly by its constitution.
“The attention of the national leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been drawn to a widely circulated statement titled ‘Coalition Update: INEC Confirms ADC State Chairmen Nationwide,’ which purports that INEC has released and validated a list of State Party Chairmen for the ADC across the country. The Independent National Electoral Commission, to the best of our knowledge and verification, has issued no such confirmation, neither officially nor unofficially,” Abdullahi wrote via his official X handle.
He added that INEC only recognises submissions made through proper channels after due diligence, clarifying that no such list has been submitted or validated.
The clarification comes amid internal tensions within the party, including a leadership tussle following INEC’s recent recognition of former Senate President David Mark as ADC national chairman.
The situation has since deepened with court summons issued to Mark and the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, over disputes regarding the party’s leadership changes.
However, the ADC has denied claims that a court injunction bars INEC from recognising the Mark-led faction, insisting such reports are also fake news sponsored by what it called “desperate political jobbers.”
