ADC dismisses rival portal claim

• Asks INEC to probe Nafiu Bala over potential forgery

By Lateef Ibrahim

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed as false claims that a group led by Nafiu Bala Gombe uploaded the names of a presidential candidate and other nominees to the INEC nomination portal.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said it was formally drawing INEC’s attention to what it described as the apparent forgery and unauthorised use of documents purportedly issued by the Commission, urging it to investigate and take appropriate action.

The party urged the public to disregard what it called attempts to create confusion and insisted it remains focused on offering Nigerians a credible alternative ahead of the 2027 general election, the leadership of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The statement by Abdullahi reads, “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) wishes to draw the attention of the media and the general public to false reports claiming that a group led by Mr. Nafiu Bala Gombe has uploaded the names of a presidential candidate and other nominees to the INEC nomination portal.

“The claim is a blatant lie. And it is quite easy to verify why.

“INEC does not issue nomination portal access or nomination codes to a leadership it does not recognise.

“Secondly, the Commission will not issue two codes to the same party.

“Otherwise, every impostor would simply upload names to the portal and proclaim themselves the authentic leadership of a political party.

“That is plainly not how the law or the Commission’s processes work.

“The question, therefore, is straightforward: where is the evidence of this purported upload by a group of individuals not known by law or the electoral body?

“We are also, by this statement, formally drawing the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to what appears to be the forgery and unauthorised use of documents purportedly emanating from the Commission in a manner capable of creating confusion and undermining public confidence in its integrity and reputation as Nigeria’s electoral umpire.

“We trust that the Commission will investigate this matter and take the necessary steps to correct this blatant misrepresentation.

“Even as ridiculous as this claim appears, it is nothing more than another scheme to create doubts and confusion in the minds of unsuspecting members of the public.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the African Democratic Congress is not factionalised. INEC has issued nomination portal access only to the leadership it recognises, and that leadership has duly concluded the party’s nomination process in accordance with the Electoral Act and the Commission’s guidelines.

“As we informed the public last week, the details of our Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (GCON), and our Vice-Presidential Candidate, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi (CON), have been uploaded on the INEC portal. Those are the facts.

“As the election approaches, there will be repeated attempts to distract the party and mislead the public.

‘We will not be distracted. Our focus remains firmly on presenting Nigerians with a credible alternative that can restore security, tackle the rising cost of living, revive the economy, create jobs, and return the country to the path of progress in 2027.

“We therefore urge our members, supporters, the media, and the general public to ignore these agents of distraction and rely only on official communications issued by the African Democratic Congress through its authorised channels.”