The Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) July 11 deadline for political parties to submit the nomination forms of their presidential and National Assembly candidates through its online nomination portal has exposed deep cracks within some opposition parties.
As the deadline approached, parties grappling with leadership disputes raced to secure recognition from the electoral commission, with rival factions laying competing claims to the authority to nominate candidates.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has become the most prominent example of the crisis.
Following the deadline, rival factions of the party engaged in a fresh war of words over who validly submitted the party’s presidential and National Assembly candidates to INEC, highlighting the unresolved leadership battle that continues to threaten the party’s preparations for the 2027 general election.
Gombe Faction Claims Successful INEC Submission, Withholds Identities
The faction led by former National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, announced that it had successfully uploaded the names of its presidential, vice-presidential and National Assembly candidates to the INEC nomination portal for the 2027 general election.
In a statement, Gombe said the submission demonstrated his faction’s commitment to protecting the interests of the party’s founding members and preparing for the next general election.
The faction on Monday also confirmed Prof. Chris Uba as its presidential candidate, with Dr. Shamsuddeen Modibbo Barkindo emerging as his running mate.
“Our leadership has successfully completed the upload of our presidential, vice-presidential and National Assembly candidates on the INEC portal for the 2027 general elections,” Gombe said in statement earlier released on Sunday.
He added that his faction remained committed to presenting credible and competent candidates capable of providing effective leadership and good governance.
ADC Dismisses Claim
But the rival ADC leadership led by former Senate President David Mark dismissed Gombe’s claim, describing it as false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Monday, the party said reports that the Gombe-led faction had uploaded candidates to the INEC portal were untrue.
RELATED NEWS:
- Court Voids INEC Timelines for Primaries, Candidate Nomination Ahead of 2027 Elections
- INEC Opposes Move to Deregister ADC as Legal Battle Deepens
- Reprieve to Opposition as Appeal Court Suspends Ruling on Deregistration of ADC, 4 Others
According to the party, INEC only grants access to its nomination portal to leadership it officially recognises and does not issue separate nomination codes to rival factions within the same political party.
The party argued that allowing multiple groups to access the portal would undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
“INEC does not issue nomination portal access or nomination codes to leadership it does not recognise. The Commission cannot issue two nomination codes to the same political party,” the statement said.
The Mark-led leadership challenged the Gombe faction to produce evidence that it had successfully uploaded candidates to the commission’s portal.
Forgery Allegation
The party also alleged that documents purportedly issued by INEC had been forged and used without authorisation to create the impression that the rival faction had completed the nomination process.
It called on the electoral commission to investigate the alleged forgery and take steps to prevent what it described as an attempt to mislead the public and undermine confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
“We are drawing the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission to what appears to be the forgery and unauthorised use of documents purportedly emanating from the Commission in a manner capable of creating confusion and undermining public confidence in its integrity,” the statement added.
The exchange is the latest development in the protracted leadership dispute within the ADC, with both factions laying claim to the party’s structure and authority ahead of the 2027 general election. The disagreement remains the subject of ongoing court proceedings.
INEC Reacts
INEC has, however, denied claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that it granted the rival ADC faction led by Nafiu Bala Gombe access to its candidate nomination portal.
A senior INEC official revealed to PUNCH on condition of anonymity that the commission recognises only the National Executive Committee of the ADC led by former Senate President David Mark.
The official was responding to allegations made by Atiku’s Media Office on Monday that INEC had assisted efforts to undermine the opposition by issuing the Gombe-led faction access codes to upload candidates’ names, despite recognising the David Mark-led leadership of the party.
Atiku’s camp also accused INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, of contributing to internal crises within opposition parties and acting in a manner that favours President Bola Tinubu’s political interests ahead of the 2027 general election.
What Lies Ahead
Even with the position conveyed by a senior INEC official, questions over the legitimacy of the ADC’s leadership and candidate nominations remain unresolved.
With the July 11 submission deadline behind them, attention will now shift to August 1, when INEC is scheduled to publish the personal particulars of all presidential and National Assembly candidates submitted by political parties.
The publication will enable members of the public to scrutinise the credentials of candidates and, where necessary, challenge their qualifications before the final list is released in September.
Another critical milestone comes on August 22, 2026, which is the deadline for the withdrawal or substitution of presidential and National Assembly candidates. Any changes to candidates after that date can only be made in circumstances permitted by the Electoral Act, such as death or voluntary withdrawal within the stipulated period.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.