The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the prosecution of factional party chairman Nafiu Bala over his claim that he accessed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal to upload candidates for the 2027 general election.
According to TheCable, the David Mark-led faction of the ADC made the demand in a statement on Tuesday, describing Bala’s claim as a serious attempt to mislead the public and undermine confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Bala had claimed on Saturday that he uploaded the names of his faction’s presidential, vice-presidential and National Assembly candidates to INEC’s nomination portal.
However, TheCable reported that sources within INEC said the commission does not issue nomination portal access codes to factions of political parties it does not recognise. The Mark-led ADC is the faction officially recognised by INEC.
Reacting to the development, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said anyone falsely claiming access to INEC’s restricted nomination platform should face investigation and prosecution.
He said such claims could erode public trust in democratic institutions and create unnecessary confusion ahead of the 2027 elections.
Abdullahi described Bala’s statement as a direct challenge to INEC’s institutional integrity, adding that the commission’s response would demonstrate its commitment to protecting the credibility of the electoral process.
He warned that allowing such claims to go unpunished could encourage others to spread similar falsehoods capable of inflaming political tensions and weakening public confidence in elections.
The ADC also urged relevant security agencies to take decisive action, insisting that deliberate misinformation should not become an accepted feature of Nigeria’s democratic process.
The party reaffirmed its commitment to democratic principles, respect for institutions and peaceful political competition.
