The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied claims that it granted nomination portal access to Nafiu Gombe or his faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The commission maintained that only the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the ADC is officially recognised.
A senior INEC official, who spoke anonymously, dismissed allegations by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s Media Office that Gombe’s faction received access codes to upload candidates for the 2027 general election.
The official said INEC operates strictly in line with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act and its established electoral guidelines.
“INEC did not give access codes to Nafiu Gombe as claimed. The commission follows only the legal framework governing elections in Nigeria,” the official said.
The official added that INEC’s records recognise only the David Mark-led National Executive Committee of the ADC.
According to the commission, Senator David Mark is listed as the party’s National Chairman, while Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is recognised as the National Secretary.
INEC also insisted that Gombe was never granted access to its nomination portal and therefore had no authority to upload candidates’ names.
The commission said it would not recognise any candidate submission made by Gombe because he is not the officially recognised chairman of the party.
Responding to claims that INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, was working to weaken opposition parties, the official described the allegation as false and without evidence.
The clarification followed accusations by Atiku Abubakar’s Media Office that INEC unlawfully gave a rival ADC faction access to its nomination portal despite recognising the David Mark-led leadership.
The ADC also rejected claims by Gombe’s faction that it uploaded candidates to the INEC portal. The party said only its recognised leadership completed the nomination process and urged the commission to investigate the alleged forgery and unauthorised use of INEC documents.
