With the expiration today of the deadline given by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for political parties to upload candidates for the 2027 general election, confusion has continued to trail the opposition over unresolved leadership disputes, parallel nominations and competing claims to party leadership. & Campaigns Elections
The uncertainty worsened Wednesday when the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, maintained the order of the Federal High Court banning the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from receiving names or correspondence from the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Stakeholders have cautioned that the persisting conflicts inside opposition parties and inconsistent judiciary pronounceements on the status of some participating parties could compromise the credibility of next year’s general election, The Guardian reports.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Friday, extended the deadline for the upload of nominated candidates from the earlier date of July 11 to July 14, 2026, saying political parties had till midnight today (Tuesday, July 14) to finish the procedure.
According to the INEC timeline, political parties were required to have uploaded the names and personal data of their presidential, Senate and House of Representatives candidates by July 11, 2026. Politics
However, the commission noted that the decision to provide a grace period was a consequence of requests from political parties which claimed technological problems during the procedure.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, announced the extension, saying the commission reached the decision based on arguments made by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).
Haruna said IPAC has appealed on behalf of parties that were finding it difficult to fulfil the initial deadline, asking political parties to take advantage of the extended window and ensure that all essential documents are submitted before the closing of today.
Some of the parties that have not yet been issued a clean bill of health for participation in next year’s election are the AA, ADC, Accord Party, NDC, ZLP and AAC, as their registrations are still subject to litigation. Campaigns and Elections
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) claimed it would use the grace period to regularise the submission of its candidates’ list to the INEC platform despite resolving its leadership issue and nominating a vice-presidential candidate, Dr Usman Bugaje, to run with Adewole Adebayo.
How Appeal Court stopped INEC from recognising Mark-led ADC congresses
In another twist of fate, the Abuja Court of Appeal, in a divided 2-1 decision stopped the INEC from recognising any state congresses or the national convention held by the David Mark-led interim leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The appellate court also maintained the ruling of the Federal High Court banning the Mark-led caretaker committee from interfering with the tenure and powers of the legally elected state executives of the party.
In the lead judgement, Justice Okon Abang, who was backed by Justice Donatus Okorowo, held that there was no reason to set aside the April 29 judgement of the Federal High Court issued by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
The court held that the authority to hold state congresses lies only with the party’s elected state executive committees and not the national caretaker leadership.
Justice Abba Mohammed, however, differed, stating that the disagreement was in the context of the internal affairs of a political party and hence not justiciable. Political Science
It also decided that the congresses and national convention convened by the David Mark-led caretaker committee were null and void, having been conducted in contravention of a subsisting court order issued on April 14.
It dismissed the Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/608/2026 brought by the ADC and awarded the party N10 million expenses.
The complaint was filed by unhappy members of ADC, including Don Norman Obinna, Johnny Tovie Derek, Obah C. Ehigiator, Olona Yinka, Charles Idowu Omideji, Samuel Pam Gyang and Obianyo Patrick. They disputed the decision of the caretaker committee to establish committees to conduct state congresses.
The Court of Appeal concurred with the trial court that the Nigerian Constitution and the ADC Constitution do not permit a caretaker national working committee to constitute committees for state congresses.
It ruled that the term of office of the party’s elected state executive committees shall be valid until duly-constituted congresses are held in conformity with the party’s constitution.
Justice Abang said where claims are on the frontier of constitutional or legislative breaches, courts are entitled to interfere, contrary to the normal rule that internal party affairs are non-justiciable.
Once a complaint before the court is rooted on a constitutional breach, the shield of internal affairs drops and the curtain is opened for judicial intervention, the court said.
The appellate court said its ruling was important to forestall anarchy and save Nigeria’s democratic process. Population groups
In the appeal, Mark and Aregbesola are contesting the decision of Joyce Abdulmalik which stopped them from truncating the four-year tenure of the party’s state officers.
The plaintiffs were the state Chairmen of the ADC through Don Norman Obinna, Johnny Tovie Derek, Obah C. Ehigiator, Olona Yinka, Dr Charles Idowu Omideji, Samuel Pam Gyang and Obianyo Patrick, who sued for themselves and on behalf of all the State Chairmen and State Executive Committees of the African Democratic Congress.
The suit numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/58/2026 has the African Democratic Congress, Senator David Mark, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Rauf Aregbesola, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, who is also sued in his capacity as member of the Caretaker/Interim National Working Committee and the Independent National Electoral Commission as defendants.
In the original summons filed at the Federal High Court, the ADC state chairmen sought the judicial interpretation of Constitutional provisions controlling the tenure and powers of party organs, especially in respect of the party’s leadership and planned state congresses.
The crux of their disagreement was whether the four-year tenure of the State Working Committee and State Executive Committee of the ADC is still legitimate and subsisting, pending the conduct of a duly constituted State Congress and the convocation of a National Convention.
The plaintiffs rested their case on Section 223 of the 1999 Constitution, Article 17 of the party’s constitution and a Final Mediation Report of December 23, 2023.
The plaintiffs had challenged the legitimacy of certain activities conducted by an entity called the “Caretaker/Interim National Working Committee” which they argued was not recognised within the party under the constitution.
Specifically, they had requested for a decision from the top court whether such a body can nominate Congress Committee Members to hold state congresses.
Besides, the state chairmen contested the validity of any appointment made by the caretaker body, describing it as unlawful, null and void.
The plaintiffs further argued that the proposed state congress scheduled for April 2026 would be a blatant breach of the party’s constitution if held under the supervision of the mentioned caretaker committee.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik in her judgement invalidated and set aside the plan by the David Mark leadership to dissolve the State Working Committee.
David Mark and others, who were said to be unhappy with the finding of the high court, had asked the Court of Appeal to throw aside the judgement of the lower court over claims of miscarriage of justice.
ADC heads to Supreme Court, argues Appeal Court ruling won’t impact candidates
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) yesterday said it has commenced the process of challenging the judgement of the Court of Appeal at the Supreme Court in respect of its ward, local government and state congresses. The party maintained that the judgement does not affect the emergence of its candidates for the 2027 general election. Campaigns & Elections
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said in a statement after the appellate court’s judgement in Abuja that the verdict was “legally unsustainable” and expressed confidence that the top court would upturn it.
The ADC had insisted the judgement only concerns the election of its ward, local government and state executive committees and does not nullify the direct primaries that produced its candidates at all levels.
The party also pointed to the dissenting judgement of the presiding Justice, which it said better represented the settled position of the law and the party’s case.
The opposition party called on its members and supporters across the country to stay calm and focused in the wake of the court verdict.
It reiterated its resolve to provide what it called a credible alternative for Nigerians and pledged to continue to pursue its political aims in line with the Constitution and the rule of law.
“We want to reassure our party members and the general public that this judgement does not in any way affect the direct primaries that produced the party’s candidates at all levels.
While insisting that the ruling is legally unsustainable, ADC said the dissenting judgement of the presiding justice “more accurately reflects the settled position of the law and the party’s position, in our view.”
We call on our party members and millions of our supporters to remain calm, confident and focussed. “The African Democratic Congress remains committed to the task of providing Nigerians with a credible alternative and will continue to pursue the mission in accordance with the constitution and the rule of law.” Demographics
ADC debunks accusation of illegal upload of INEC nomination, accuses document forgery
The African Democratic Congress has debunked reports that a group led by Alhaji Nafiu Bala Gombe submitted the name of a presidential candidate and other nominees on the nomination portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The party also alleged of fabrication and illegal use of documents ostensibly provided by INEC and asked on the electoral authority to examine the matter and take necessary measures.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said in a statement yesterday that the reports were designed to mislead the public and throw them into uncertainty.
INEC does not give access to nomination site or nomination codes to a leadership that it does not acknowledge. INEC does not give multiple nomination codes to the same political party.
Such a mechanism, he suggested, would allow anyone to upload names to the portal and claim to be the authorised leadership of a political party.
The question is simple, thus where is the evidence of this alleged upload by a group of persons unknown by law or the electoral body?“the statement said.
The party said it was officially bringing to INEC’s attention what it termed the apparent falsification and illegal use of papers, allegedly emanating from the Commission, in a manner that could create confusion and erode public faith in the electoral body.
It expressed confidence that INEC will probe the situation and do the needful to redress what it regarded as a flagrant misrepresentation.
The ADC called on the people to ignore the reports, saying they were another attempt to sow doubt and confusion among Nigerians. It said it was committed to providing Nigerians a legitimate political choice ahead of the 2027 general election. Population demographics
ADC primaries not voided by Appeal Court, Atiku insists; encourages calm
The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has called on party members and the millions of Nigerians who desire genuine democratic change to remain calm, steadfast and focused, noting that the Court of Appeal did not nullify the primary elections conducted by the ADC for the nomination of candidates for the 2027 general elections, contrary to the misleading narrative being aggressively spread in some quarters.
Atiku, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the efforts to make it look like the judgement was the end of the ADC’s presidential ticket was just another chapter of the ongoing campaign of misinformation designed to demoralise the opposition and confuse Nigerians.
“Those celebrating today should do so cautiously. Those trying to peddle false hope to their supporters must also bear in mind that political propaganda can never be a substitute for judicial judgements.
“The judgement being celebrated has to do with the conduct of State Congresses and the tenure of State Executive Committees. On the facts before us, it is not a judicial nullification of the ADC’s primary elections held under the Electoral Act.
Electing party executives through internal congresses and nominating candidates through statutory primary elections are two different legal things. They are separate legal activities, controlled by separate legal principles and pursuing separate constitutional goals. One must not mistake the other for the one. Campaigns & Elections
“It is a well-settled principle of law that courts decide only issues raised before them. But they do not make controversies or pass judgement on things never submitted to them. Any attempt to extend this judgement beyond its intended limits is an invitation to legal nonsense.
“Our opponents seem more interested in writing judgements on social media than reading the one delivered by the Court of Appeal. “We are governed by law in Nigeria, not by headlines, not by hashtags, not by the whims of political opportunists.
“We still respect the judiciary and we have already directed our lawyers to approach the apex court for final determination of issues emanating from the judgement. “That is the right constitutional way and we have full faith in the judicial process,” he said.
ADC supporters need not lose sleep. Let no Nigerian who believes in the restoration of our country be disheartened. The fight to save Nigeria has never been about any one courtroom or any one judgement. “It is a product of the collective will of millions of Nigerians for competent leadership, economic revival, national unity and the restoration of hope.
“So we call on our members throughout the federation to remain calm, united and focused. Keep your mind on the job. Mobilise ahead. Keep organising. Keep on believin’. No amount of legal gymnastics or political spin can kill the legitimate aspirations of Nigerians for a better country.
“The route to 2027 is still open and propaganda cannot reverse the will of the Nigerian people. Our destination has not altered and by the grace of God and the will of the Nigerian people we will get there.
Stakeholders fault INEC over ADC faction recognition, warn of threat to 2027 elections
Stakeholders have decried the admission of the Gombe ADC branch by INEC even before the Appeal Court verdict, noting that the development challenges the opposition coalition’s resolve to participate in the 2027 general election. Campaigns and Elections
Kamorudeen Ajisafe, former South-West Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, called the incident appalling and a menace to Nigeria’s democracy.
“This is something that is beyond comment. We can’t comment on the situation as it develops. How can anybody want to dismiss Atiku via the courts and INEC? “Mark my words, INEC will still come after Peter Obi and the NDC,” he stated.
Ajisafe asked the media to increase scrutiny of what he described as efforts to stifle opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections, suggesting that newspapers issue black mastheads with the heading, ‘Black Day for Democracy.’
For his part, the immediate past President of Aka Ikenga, an Igbo think tank linked to Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Goddy Uwazurike, warned that the legitimacy of INEC has come under heavy public scrutiny from the incident.
“INEC’s credibility is below zero. No wonder, when you see what the commission’s been up to. “There seems to be a conspiracy to undermine democracy but I think there are more court cases coming,” he remarked.
The president of the Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, Akin Malaolu, also condemned the judgements emanating from litigation filed by several state officials of the party.
“We do not agree with the majority judgement because the internal dispute resolution processes of the party were not exhausted before the state executives approached the court. “That important matter seems to have been overlooked,” he remarked.
Malaolu said the judgements were aimed at stopping Atiku Abubakar from contesting the 2027 presidential election, and insisted that the ADC and its candidates be permitted to fight the polls. Executive branch
Leaders across the country must stand up to stop this hazardous slide in the interest of peace and national stability. The ADC and its candidates should be given a chance to contest the 2027 elections. “On this we stand firm,” he continued.
Bode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, also warned that the exclusion of top opposition figures from the 2027 elections posed a significant danger to the country.
Reacting to the development, George urged Nigerians to rise against the INEC Chairman and demand that he be removed. He also called on President Bola Tinubu to address the nation openly if the electoral commission was not following on his instruction, describing the move as an offensive against opposition politicians.
In another reply, elder statesman and leader of Igbo Dialogue Agenda, Dr Chekwas Okorie, called on the judiciary to ensure that it does not become the undertaker to bury Nigeria’s hard-won democracy.
Okorie remembered the NPN in power using the whole weight of the federal government to rig the Ondo State governorship election during the Second Republic and how the judiciary spared the country from the conflagration that would have been.
The Supreme Court held that the spirit of the law that gave Adekunle Ajasin victory is superior to the text of the law that declared Akin Omoboriowo as the winner of the governorship campaign. “So, I am calling on the Supreme Court to intervene again as the last court of the land to save Nigeria’s democracy,” he said.
Okorie called on the ruling APC and the judiciary to enable the voters to decide on the critical question of who should lead the country as stipulated in the periodic democratic elections, saying that removing ADC and its candidates after they had emerged could be read differently by the population.
About the Author
