The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticized the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, over his recent comments cautioning the party against proceeding with its planned congresses and national convention.
In a press statement issued on April 3, 2026, the party described the INEC Chairman’s remarks during an appearance on ARISE NEWS as a “wilful distortion” of the Court of Appeal’s directive to maintain the status quo, arguing that such an interpretation amounts to contempt of court.
ADC maintained that INEC had overstepped its constitutional boundaries by attempting to interfere in the party’s internal affairs, stressing that ongoing legal disputes do not invalidate or suspend a political party’s democratic processes.
According to the statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the Commission’s reliance on the doctrine of status quo ante bellum was both selective and legally flawed. The party argued that preservation orders are intended to protect the subject matter of litigation, not to halt the routine functioning of political organizations.
“The determination of what constitutes the ‘status quo’ lies strictly within the jurisdiction of the courts, not INEC,” the statement noted, adding that no court order explicitly restrains the party from conducting congresses or conventions.
The ADC further rejected claims that proceeding with such activities could render ongoing court proceedings nugatory, insisting that internal party processes conducted in line with the Electoral Act do not prejudice judicial outcomes.
On INEC’s position that it could not monitor the party’s congresses due to an injunction, the ADC described the stance as a misunderstanding of the Commission’s role. It argued that INEC’s monitoring duty is statutory and does not determine the legality of a party’s internal processes.
The party also dismissed INEC’s concerns over conflicting communications from different factions within the ADC, stating that internal disputes are common in democratic systems and do not justify administrative inaction or interference.
Reacting to comparisons with past judicial precedents such as the Zamfara case, the ADC said the analogy was misplaced, noting that those instances involved clear violations of legal requirements, unlike its current situation.
The party concluded by reaffirming its commitment to due process and constitutional order, emphasizing that its planned congresses and national convention would proceed in full compliance with the law.
ADC also urged INEC to remain neutral and operate strictly within its constitutional and statutory mandate, warning against what it described as a dangerous precedent of regulatory overreach that could undermine multi-party democracy in Nigeria.
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