The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has demanded the immediate investigation and prosecution of Mr. Nafiu Bala after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disowned his claim that he accessed the Commission’s restricted nomination portal and uploaded candidates for the Party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The opposition party said INEC’s rejection of the claim and its declaration that the document circulated by Bala was forged had transformed the matter from a political dispute into a criminal issue requiring urgent action.
The demand was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.
According to the Party, INEC’s clarification confirmed that the document presented by Bala to support his claims was fake and that his assertions were entirely false.
The statement partly read: “The issue before us is no longer simply about the continuous false statements that have been issued by Nafiu Bala Gombe at the behest of his sponsors.
“It is about the clear and unmistakable attempt to mislead the Nigerian public by making false claims and fabricating and sharing forged documents that directly impugn the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral management body.”
The ADC argued that falsely claiming access to INEC’s highly restricted candidate nomination portal amounted to a serious attack on the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process and could weaken public confidence in the Commission ahead of future elections.
It stressed that only duly recognised officials of registered political parties are authorised to access the nomination portal, making Bala’s alleged claims particularly alarming.
“To publicly claim that one has gained access to INEC’s restricted nomination platform and exercised powers reserved for duly recognised party officials is a grave matter.
“As INEC has now confirmed, Nafiu Bala Gombe’s actions raise serious questions that deserve the immediate attention of law enforcement agencies,” the Party stated.
The ADC warned that allowing such allegations to go unpunished could encourage others to fabricate similar claims capable of creating confusion, political instability and distrust in Nigeria’s electoral system.
The Party also urged INEC to go beyond denying the allegations by initiating criminal proceedings against everyone involved in producing and circulating the allegedly forged document.
“As a responsible Party, the ADC therefore calls on INEC to take all the necessary steps to ensure that Mr. Nafiu Bala and anyone else involved in originating or promoting this falsehood are investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” the statement added.
The opposition Party maintained that the issue extends beyond its internal affairs and concerns the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“This is not about the ADC alone. It is about protecting the integrity of public institutions. It is about ensuring that no one believes they can make false claims that involve critical national institutions without consequences.
“More importantly, it is about preserving public confidence in the processes that underpin our democracy.”
Describing Bala’s alleged actions as “a direct challenge” to INEC’s institutional integrity, the ADC said the Commission’s response would demonstrate how seriously Nigeria’s institutions defend the rule of law.
“How this matter is handled will send an important signal about the seriousness with which our institutions defend their credibility and the rule of law.
“If individuals can falsely claim access to the Commission’s secured systems, generate widespread public anxiety and simply move on when the claim is disproved, a dangerous precedent would have been established.”
The Party warned that failure to hold those responsible accountable could embolden others to deploy similar falsehoods during future elections.
“Others may be tempted to deploy similar falsehoods in the future to create confusion, inflame political passions or undermine confidence in the electoral process. The public is watching,” the statement added.
The latest controversy followed INEC’s public clarification distancing itself from documents allegedly circulated by Bala claiming he had obtained the Commission’s access code and uploaded candidates on behalf of the ADC for the 2027 elections.
The electoral body said the claims were false and that the document being circulated did not originate from INEC.
The development comes amid an ongoing leadership crisis within the ADC, with rival factions laying claim to the authority to act on behalf of the Party.
Reaffirming its commitment to democratic values, the Party said it remained committed to lawful political engagement and respect for public institutions.
“The ADC remains committed to democratic politics, respect for institutions and the peaceful conduct of political competition,” the statement concluded.
“We trust that the relevant authorities will act decisively to ensure that deliberate falsehoods of this nature do not become an accepted feature of our democratic life.”
