Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has raised alarm over what he described as a “well orchestrated sinister conspiracy” to undermine credible elections ahead of the 2027 general polls, citing the ongoing leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Effiong said although the ADC is “not my cup of tea,” recent developments suggest a troubling attempt to interfere with the democratic process.
“The ADC is not my cup of tea, but there is now reasonable basis to infer existence of a well orchestrated sinister conspiracy to truncate contested and credible elections in 2027,” he stated.
He noted that, based on publicly available information, the party’s executives had resigned to pave the way for the emergence of Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.
However, he pointed out that Hon. Nafiu Gombe, who instituted the court action, claims he never resigned as Deputy National Chairman and should have automatically assumed leadership in line with the party’s constitution.
“The man who took the case to the court, Nafiu Gombe, claims that he did not resign as Deputy National Chairman, and that he ought to have automatically assumed the position of National Chairman ‘in line with the Party’s Constitution’,” Effiong said.
He further observed that the party had already convened a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting where the new leadership led by Mark was ratified, questioning the basis of the dispute.
“Interestingly, the ADC held a National Executive Committee where the party ratified its new leadership led by Mark. So, what’s the controversy here?” he queried.
Effiong also raised legal concerns over judicial interference in party affairs, arguing that leadership disputes within political parties were traditionally considered internal matters.
“Is leadership of a political parties no longer the internal affairs of political parties? It used to be the law that issues of political party leadership is non justiciable, or forum domesticum,” he said.
“A Party’s NEC has the authority to decide who should lead the party. If the party says they want another person to assume that role instead of the Deputy National Chairman, can the Court compel the same party to submit to its Deputy? Is this dispute justiciable?” he added.
On the Court of Appeal’s directive to maintain the status quo ante bellum, Effiong questioned its interpretation by INEC.
“This means the state of affairs before the suit before the Federal High Court was filed… Before the suit, who was the Chairman of the Party? Was it not David Mark?” he asked.
He further queried whether INEC’s actions imply a leadership vacuum within the party pending the court’s final decision.
“Is this INEC saying that the Order of the Court of Appeal implies that there should be leadership vacuum in the ADC until the case is determined by the Federal High Court? Whose script is this INEC playing?” he asked.
Effiong went on to allege that the unfolding situation reflects a broader fear of electoral competition.
“It seems that the ruling party, which prides itself as having over thirty governors in its fold, is so scared of a fair contestation,” he stated.
He added that if the intention is to produce an uncontested presidential race, the electoral body should make its position clear.
“If it is the desire of INEC for Bola Tinubu to contest as a sole candidate – unopposed, in 2027, let the Commission say so publicly. It will save the country the billions of Naira budgeted for the ‘presidential election’,” Effiong said.
The comments come amid heightened political tension and legal disputes surrounding party leadership structures as preparations gradually build toward the 2027 general elections.
