The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused “powerful figures” within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to destabilize the party by imposing an expelled member as national chairman of the ADC.

ADC said the move has been activated to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Mr. Nafiu Bala Gombe, “an expelled member of the party”, as ADC National Chairman.

The party also said there are plans to ensure that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerges “unopposed as the only serious contender on the ballot in 2027.

In a statement in Abuja by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the move as a calculated attempt by elements within the ruling establishment to manufacture confusion within the ADC and “weaken the only viable opposition platform left in the country.”

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The party maintained that there is no legal basis for any confusion as its leadership remains firmly under Senator David Mark following a combined meeting of the National Working Committee and National Executive Committee witnessed by INEC officials in July 2025.

The ADC also vowed to employ every legitimate means to resist plots by those the party described as anti-democratic forces within the ruling party to end competitive democracy in Nigeria.

The statement said the brazen attempt to undermine and destabilise the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections is reportedly being driven allegedly by an APC governor in collaboration with a senior security official based in Abuja as part of the plot to impose President Tinubu on Nigerians as the sole presidential contender in 2027.

“It may be worth reiterating that a properly constituted combined meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC), witnessed by officials of INEC, transferred leadership to the coalition led by Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola in July 2025.

APC National Director of Publicity, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has no control over the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and therefore cannot influence its constitutional responsibilities.

He said, “The APC has no control over INEC; we do not dictate what INEC does. So how can the APC influence or pressure INEC in carrying out its constitutional duties?”

He added that the accusations by the ADC were baseless and stemmed from anxiety within the opposition party.

“The ADC is simply confused. They are jittery because they can already see failure staring them in the face,” Ibrahim said.

He further noted that similar allegations had previously been made by opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing the APC of interfering in their internal affairs.

“But there is just no way the APC will interfere. These are the same kinds of accusations the opposition has been making, including claims that the APC is interfering in the affairs of the PDP,” he added. (Daily Trust)

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