The Independent National Electoral Commission has dismissed allegations by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that it granted the African Democratic Congress’ rival faction led by Nafiu Gombe access codes to upload candidates’ names to its nomination portal.
A senior official of the commission who pleaded for anonymity told PUNCH Online in an exclusive interview on Tuesday that only the David Mark-led National Executive Committee is recognized by the electoral body.
PUNCH Online reports that the commission’s response followed allegations by Atiku’s Media Office on Monday that INEC had aided efforts to weaken the opposition by allegedly granting Gombe access to the commission’s candidate nomination portal, despite recognizing the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC.
Atiku’s camp had also accused the commission’s chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, of allegedly fuelling internal crises within opposition parties and working to advance President Bola Tinubu’s political interests ahead of the 2027 general election.
Reacting to the allegations, the senior INEC official denied that the commission granted Gombe or his associates access to the nomination portal, insisting that the electoral body operates strictly within the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and its own regulations.
The official said, “INEC did not give access codes to Nafiu Gombe as claimed by Atiku’s media office. INEC operates based on the legal framework guiding elections and the electoral system in Nigeria.
“Of course, we are talking about the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, the Electoral Act, and INEC’s guidelines and regulations.
“So, based on that, the recognized leadership of ADC, according to our records, is that of the Senator David Mark-led leadership. If you go to our portal right now, Senator David Mark is the chairman of the ADC, while Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is the secretary.
“According to records, INEC did not give Nafiu Gombe access codes. So, whatever anyone is saying, we are not really interested.”
The official further maintained that Gombe lacked the legal standing to submit candidates’ names through the commission’s portal because he is not recognized as the party’s chairman, while emphasizing that the commission did not give him or any of his aides, agents, or allies access codes to the nomination portal.
