The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate resignation or removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing him of partisan conduct, gross misconduct, and actions that threaten Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
In a strongly worded letter signed by its National Chairman and Secretary, the party expressed “strongest condemnation” of the INEC Chairman’s recent actions and public statements, which it said raise serious concerns about his fitness to remain in office.
The ADC specifically criticized a recent media interview granted by the INEC boss, describing it as “disgraceful and unbecoming” of the office. According to the party, the remarks revealed a “troubling willingness to descend into partisan controversy” and assume responsibilities beyond the Commission’s constitutional mandate.
A major point of contention for the party is what it described as the Chairman’s attempt to interpret judicial pronouncements. The ADC argued that such actions constitute a constitutional breach, stressing that the interpretation of court judgments is the exclusive responsibility of the judiciary.
“For the Chairman of INEC to publicly assume that role, offering partisan constructions of legal outcomes in a manner that appears to favour a particular individual, amounts to a serious constitutional breach and an affront to the doctrine of separation of powers,” the letter stated.
The party further alleged that INEC, under the current leadership, has abandoned its neutrality and aligned with factional interests, a development it warned could undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system.
Referencing an internal dispute within the party, the ADC noted that the individual at the center of the controversy had attended a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting where the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Ralph Nwosu was dissolved. It argued that any subsequent reliance on that individual’s former authority or signature is legally flawed and contradictory.
The ADC maintained that INEC’s stance on the matter raises serious concerns about bias and institutional overreach.
“INEC is not a court of law. It is not an advocate. It has no mandate to interpret judgments to suit a preferred narrative,” the party emphasized, urging the Commission to operate strictly within the bounds of the Constitution with neutrality and professionalism.
