ABUJA, Nigeria — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the prosecution of Nafiu Gombe after the Independent National Electoral Commission debunked his false claims of uploading the party’s candidates for the 2027 elections on its portal.
The party, in a statement issued on Tuesday, described Gombe’s actions as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and undermine the integrity of the electoral process. The ADC insisted that only the party’s national leadership is authorised to submit candidates’ details to INEC.
INEC had earlier dismissed Gombe’s claims, stating that no such submissions were made and urging the public to disregard the false information. The commission also warned against impersonation and the dissemination of false information regarding electoral processes.
The ADC has called on security agencies to investigate the matter and ensure that Gombe is prosecuted for his actions. The party also reiterated its commitment to due process and adherence to electoral laws in the conduct of its affairs.
The controversy began when Gombe, who is not a recognised official of the ADC, claimed to have uploaded the party’s candidates for various elective positions on the INEC portal. The party swiftly distanced itself from the claims, stating that Gombe had no authority to act on its behalf.
INEC, in its response, confirmed that the claims were false and that no such uploads had been made. The commission reiterated that only authorised representatives of political parties are permitted to access the portal for candidate nomination and submission.
The ADC has expressed concern that such false claims could create confusion among the public and undermine confidence in the electoral process. The party has therefore called on security agencies to take swift action against Gombe to serve as a deterrent to others who may seek to exploit the electoral system.
The party has also called on its members and supporters to remain calm and to disregard any information about candidate nomination that does not come from the party’s official channels. The ADC assured its members that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure that the party’s candidates are properly nominated and submitted to INEC in accordance with the law.
The ADC has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible primaries and to ensuring that the party’s candidates are duly registered with INEC ahead of the 2027 elections. The party has also called on INEC to strengthen its monitoring mechanisms to prevent unauthorised access to its portal and to ensure that only authorised representatives of political parties are allowed to submit candidates.
As the 2027 elections approach, the ADC has reiterated its resolve to follow all legal and procedural requirements for candidate nomination, while also working to ensure that the party’s internal processes remain transparent and credible. For now, the party has made it clear that it will not tolerate any attempt to undermine its integrity or the electoral process, and it expects security agencies to act decisively in prosecuting those who engage in such acts.
