ADC convention: Aregbesola accuses INEC of dereliction of duty, insists party met all Legal requirements

National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, has declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had no lawful basis to boycott the party’s national convention held on Tuesday in Abuja.

Aregbesola spoke at the convention convened at the Rainbow Event Centre, amid an ongoing dispute between INEC and the David Mark-led leadership of the party.

The disagreement stems from INEC’s April 1 decision to de-recognise factions within the ADC. The commission subsequently announced that it would no longer engage with any faction of the party or participate in their activities.

INEC based its position on a March 12 judgment of the court of appeal, which directed parties involved in the ADC leadership crisis to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of suits before the federal high court.

However, the Mark-led ADC leadership rejected INEC’s interpretation of the ruling, accusing the commission of partisanship and alleging that it was siding with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a bid to weaken opposition forces and entrench a one-party system.

Addressing party delegates, Aregbesola maintained that the ADC had fulfilled all statutory requirements ahead of the convention, leaving INEC with no justification for its refusal to attend and monitor the exercise.

“We have discharged the responsibility required of us, and at this point, it is the duty of INEC to equally discharge its own constitutionally and lawfully assigned responsibility by attending and monitoring this convention. It’s a duty,” he said.

He described INEC’s absence as a “dereliction of duty,” alleging that the commission’s action bordered on partisanship and was aimed at delegitimising the party’s lawful activities.

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The former Osun State governor referenced provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, arguing that the only ground upon which a party’s convention could be invalidated was failure to notify INEC as stipulated by law.

“The only condition that would warrant a congress or convention of a party to be invalid is contained in Section 82, Subsection 6 of the Electoral Act 2026,” Aregbesola said.

“Failure of a party to notify the commission as stated in Sections 1 and 2 shall render the primaries, convention, congress, and congresses invalid.”

According to him, the ADC complied fully with Sections 82(1) and (2) of the Act by notifying INEC in advance and submitting all required documentation.

“We are equally required to supply INEC in advance with the list of committees to conduct the congresses and convention. And we are equally required by the law to give INEC soft and hard copies of the registers of our members 21 days before then. So on the 17th of March, we met all the conditions… all the conditions,” he said.

Aregbesola added that the party formally wrote to the commission on March 16, with the letter signed by himself and the party chairman, and that INEC acknowledged receipt on March 17.“This is the second letter conveying that. The letter was written by me, signed by the chairman and myself on the 16th, delivered and acknowledged by INEC on the 17th of March. Media, capture it… so INEC has no hiding place,” he stated.

The ADC scribe argued that INEC’s reliance on the court of appeal judgment was misplaced, insisting that the ruling did not restrain the commission from monitoring the convention.

“Hiding under the court of appeal, which did not make any reference to attending or monitoring the ADC convention, amounts to INEC assuming the role of a court, which it is not,” he said.

He further alleged that the commission’s stance suggested a deliberate attempt to weaken the ADC to the advantage of the ruling APC.

“Except if INEC, as it has become apparent, is on a voyage to destroy ADC, to pave way for APC to coast to victory without any serious challenge,” Aregbesola added.

Reaffirming the party’s legal status, Aregbesola stressed that the ADC remains duly registered and operational nationwide.

“We wish to remind INEC that ADC remains a registered political party, with registered members and structures from the polling unit level up to the national level. ADC has not been proscribed by any law in Nigeria or court order,” he said.

“It therefore has the right to continue to undertake its legitimate functions under the law.

“We are seriously concerned with the attitude of INEC treating the ADC as a party that has been proscribed and therefore does not exist. It is false, it is wrong, it is unconstitutional, it is bad.”

The dispute marks a new chapter in the unfolding leadership crisis within the ADC and underscores growing tensions between opposition parties and the electoral commission ahead of future political contests.