The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that if the African Democratic Congress (ADC) proceeds with its planned congress and convention amid ongoing internal disputes, the courts could declare the election invalid, potentially awarding victory to the candidate with the second-highest number of votes.
Speaking in an interview, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan clarified that the commission cannot monitor the ADC’s congress until the courts resolve inconsistencies within the party.
Q: What will be the implications as ADC says they will go ahead with their congress and convention?
INEC Chairman: if they decide to go ahead, let me tell you what happened in Zamfara: it happened in the past. At the end of the day, after you have won, the court will declare the… pic.twitter.com/FEchcH5hJF
— Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz) April 3, 2026
Amupitan’s comments came in response to the faction of the ADC led by David Mark, which recently expressed a lack of confidence in the electoral body and called for the chairman’s removal.
He emphasized that the electoral commission cannot be accused of favoritism, noting that the party’s internal crisis was not instigated by INEC.
“If they (ADC) are saying we have taken sides, that is not true, because if you look at the status quo ante bellum, we tried to interrogate it, and it means the status before the hostility started, the status before the war.”
– Prof. Amupitan INEC Chairman responded to David… pic.twitter.com/AsvzVAqFNW
— Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz) April 3, 2026
“The resignations of Nafiu Bala Gombe and the question of their validity are currently pending before the Federal High Court,” Amupitan said.
“The court must make a pronouncement before INEC can play any role in monitoring the congress.”
The issue of the resignations of Nafiu Bala Gombe and the validity or not is pending before the Federal High Court, so the court has to make a pronouncement. This is a matter the court has to decide, it’s not a matter anybody can act on now.
– Prof. Amupitan INEC Chairman pic.twitter.com/ioyGI9OaJD
— Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz) April 3, 2026
