The Independent National Electoral Commission has dismissed allegations by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, that it granted the African Democratic Congress’ rival faction led by Nafiu Gombe access codes to upload candidates’ names to its nomination portal.

A senior official of the commission who pleaded anonymity, told PUNCH Online in an exclusive interview on Tuesday that only the David Mark-led National Executive Committee is recognised by the electoral body.

PUNCH Online reports that the commission’s response followed allegations by Atiku’s Media Office on Monday that INEC had aided efforts to weaken the opposition by allegedly granting Gombe access to the commission’s candidate nomination portal, despite recognising the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC.

Atiku’s camp had also accused the commission’s chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, of allegedly fuelling internal crises within opposition parties and working to advance President Bola Tinubu’s political interests ahead of the 2027 general election.

Reacting to the allegations, the senior INEC official denied that the commission granted Gombe or his associates access to the nomination portal, insisting that the electoral body operates strictly within the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and its own regulations.

The official said, “INEC did not give access codes to Nafiu Gombe as claimed by Atiku’s Media Office. INEC operates based on the legal framework guiding elections and the electoral system in Nigeria.

“Of course, we are talking about the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, the Electoral Act, and INEC’s guidelines and regulations.

“So, based on that, the recognised leadership of ADC, according to our records, is that of the Senator David Mark-led leadership. If you go to our portal right now, Senator David Mark is the chairman of the ADC, while Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is the Secretary.

“According to records, INEC did not give Nafiu Gombe access codes. So, whatever anyone is saying, we are not really interested.”

The official further maintained that Gombe lacked the legal standing to submit candidates’ names through the commission’s portal because he is not recognised as the party’s chairman, while emphsising that the commission did not give him or any of his aides, agents or allies access codes to the nomination portal.

“It’s as good as saying that Nafiu Gombe cannot upload the names of candidates on the INEC portal because he is not the officially recognised chairman of the ADC. Gombe, or any of his agents, aides or close allies did not get any access codes from INEC to upload names of candidates. In fact, the question is which portal did they upload the names? INEC does not recognise anything from Nafiu Gombe.”

The commission also rejected allegations that Amupitan was involved in the internal leadership dispute within the ADC or was acting to undermine opposition parties.

“The allegation by Atiku’s Media Office that Amupitan is trying to weaken opposition parties is a baseless allegation. The attempt to drag Amupitan into political parties’ internal crisis is an exercise in futility.

“Amupitan did not go to court. Amupitan did not drag Nafiu Gombe to court and Amupitan did not drag the David Mark-led ADC to court; it’s a party crisis, so why are they trying to drag Amupitan into it?

“The allegations are baseless. They should rather focus on strengthening their party than blaming Amupitan for their problems.

“As I earlier mentioned, Nafiu Gombe is not officially recognised and cannot have access to upload the names of candidates on INEC’s portal”, the senior INEC official emphasised.

PUNCH Online reports that the controversy stems from a statement issued on Monday by Atiku’s Media Office, which alleged that Gombe had claimed to have uploaded the names of ADC candidates to INEC’s nomination portal, an action the former VP described as evidence of partisanship by the electoral commission.

The ADC, in a statement on Tuesday, by its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, also denied claims that Gombe or his faction uploaded any candidates’ names to the commission’s portal, insisting that INEC recognises only the David Mark-led leadership and could not have issued a separate access code to any rival group.

The party called on INEC to investigate the alleged forgery and unauthorised use of documents purportedly issued by the electoral body following claims by a rival faction that it had uploaded the names of the party’s presidential candidate and other nominees to the commission’s nomination portal.

The leadership tussle within the ADC has intensified following the emergence of Mark as the party’s National Chairman and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Secretary, developments that have been challenged by rival factions as political alignments gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election. (PUNCH)

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