The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has denied claims by a factional leader of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Nafiu Bala, that his group gained access to the commission’s nomination portal and uploaded candidates for the 2027 general election.

The claim, which circulated widely on social media, alleged that Bala’s faction had successfully submitted the party’s candidates through INEC’s online portal.

Responding to the report, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, dismissed the claim, insisting that Bala was not recognised by the commission as the ADC’s National Chairman.

“It is not true,” she said.

A review of INEC’s official political parties portal also does not support Bala’s claim, as the portal still lists Senator David Mark as the ADC National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s National Secretary.

The listing indicates that Mark and Aregbesola remain the officials recognised by INEC for nomination and other official party matters.

The latest development follows claims by Bala’s faction that it had obtained INEC’s access code and uploaded candidates, a claim the electoral body has now rejected.

The ADC had earlier dismissed the claim as false, saying INEC does not issue nomination portal access or nomination codes to a leadership it does not recognise.

According to the party, the commission cannot issue two nomination codes to the same political party, warning that such a situation would allow impostors to upload names and claim lawful authority.

The ADC also called on INEC to investigate what it described as possible forgery and unauthorised use of documents purportedly emanating from the commission, saying the claim was capable of creating confusion and undermining public confidence in the electoral process.

The denial comes amid a lingering leadership dispute within the ADC, with rival groups claiming control of the party ahead of the 2027 general election.

TNL had earlier reported that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar accused INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, of weakening opposition parties by allegedly granting portal access to Bala’s faction.

Atiku had argued that any parallel submission by Bala’s faction would be unlawful since INEC had recognised the David Mark-led leadership.

However, INEC’s latest position directly rejects the claim that Bala’s faction gained access to the nomination portal or uploaded candidates on behalf of the ADC.

The development is expected to intensify scrutiny of the ADC leadership crisis and the commission’s handling of political party nomination processes ahead of the 2027 polls.

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