2027: There are political, legal plots to destabilise our party – ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) -led federal government of orchestrating moves to destabilise the party following the defection of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, alleging undue pressure on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), to interfere in its internal affairs ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a statement on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party said a March 28 letter authored by a group of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), purportedly acting on behalf of an expelled member, is being used to pressure INEC into invalidating key decisions and altering the party’s leadership structure before the courts deliver a final ruling.

The ADC described the move as part of a broader plot to weaken what it called “the only credible opposition platform” in the country, vowing to resist any such attempt through constitutional means.

According to the party, the controversy stems from an ongoing legal dispute which, it alleged, is now being escalated beyond the courtroom.

Read also: We prefer defecting to ADC than APC – Bala Mohammed 

The ADC noted that the letter in question urged INEC to adopt what it termed a “curious interpretation” of a Court of Appeal ruling on the concept of status quo ante bellum.

The party further alleged that the authors of the letter threatened the INEC chairman with arrest should he fail to comply within seven days, demanding the nullification of party meetings, removal of recognised officials, and the transfer of party leadership to a specific individual despite the matter still pending before the courts.

“This is a clear attempt to pressure INEC into taking sides and granting requests that no court in Nigeria has approved,” the statement said.

The ADC also dismissed the claims of one of the alleged aggrieved parties, Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, insisting he was never the party’s national chairman and had since resigned alongside other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) before being expelled.

“It is therefore fictitious to suggest any ‘status quo’ that elevates him to the position of national chairman at any point,” the party stated.

The ADC maintained that the development reflects a convergence of political and legal pressure driven by growing anxiety within the ruling party over the rising profile of the opposition.

“No amount of pressure, manufactured confusion, or distortion of legal processes will halt the momentum already building. The ADC is growing, Nigerians are joining, and a credible opposition is taking shape,” the ADC added.

The party called on INEC to remain impartial, uphold constitutional provisions, and resist external influence in the discharge of its duties.

APC officials could not be reached for comments at the time of filing this report.