The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected claims that the particulars of Chris Uba were uploaded as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, insisting that only the party’s recognised leadership has access to its nomination portal.
The controversy followed a social media post by Nafiu Bala, who claimed his faction of the ADC had submitted the names of Chris Uba as the party’s presidential candidate and Shamsuddin Barkindo as the vice-presidential candidate through the INEC portal.
Bala also shared screenshots allegedly taken from the commission’s portal alongside a document bearing the INEC logo in an attempt to support his claim. However, the electoral body has distanced itself from the development.
INEC spokesperson Mohammed Haruna said the commission only issued login credentials to the ADC leadership headed by former Senate President David Mark, which it officially recognises. He added that after making inquiries within the commission, no official was aware of the alleged upload.
Haruna further confirmed that the candidates submitted by the recognised ADC leadership are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the vice-presidential candidate.
The recognised ADC leadership also dismissed Bala’s claims as false. In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party argued that INEC could not issue multiple nomination portal access codes to different factions of the same political party.
The party also urged the electoral commission to investigate what it described as the alleged forgery and unauthorised use of documents bearing INEC’s identity, warning that such actions could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
The dispute is the latest chapter in the leadership crisis within the ADC. Earlier this year, Bala challenged David Mark’s emergence as national chairman in court after insisting he was the rightful occupant of the position following the resignation of former chairman Ralph Nwosu. Although the legal tussle briefly affected the party’s recognition, the ADC later expelled Bala and INEC subsequently recognised the David Mark-led leadership.
