ADC Urges Probe, Prosecution of Nafiu Bala After INEC Rejects Alleged Candidate Upload Claims
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate and prosecute Nafiu Bala after he allegedly claimed to have gained access to the Commission’s nomination portal and uploaded his faction’s presidential candidate and other nominees for the 2027 general election.
ThelensNG reports that INEC denied the claim, describing it as untrue. The Commission also maintained that Bala is not recognised as the National Chairman of the ADC.
Reacting to the development, the ADC, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, welcomed what it described as INEC’s prompt clarification.
The party noted that the clarification confirmed that the document circulated by Bala, purporting to show that he had obtained the Commission’s access code and uploaded candidates on behalf of the ADC for the 2027 general election, was forged and that the claim itself was entirely false.
“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 unmistakeable 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.
“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 statement said.
Abdullahi stressed that such claims are capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process, creating unnecessary political tension, and casting doubt on the security and credibility of INEC’s systems.
“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.”
According to Abdullahi, the issue is not about the ADC alone but about protecting the integrity of public institutions and ensuring that no one believes they can make false claims involving critical national institutions without consequences.
“More importantly, it is about preserving public confidence in the processes that underpin our democracy. INEC must see Nafiu Bala Gombe’s action for what it is: a direct challenge to its institutional integrity,” he argued.
He also asserted that how the matter is handled will send an important signal about the seriousness with which Nigeria’s institutions defend their credibility and the rule of law.
Abdullahi emphasised that if individuals can falsely claim access to the Commission’s secure systems, generate widespread public anxiety, and simply move on when the claim is disproved, a dangerous precedent would have been established.
He explained that 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,” he said, reiterating the ADC’s committment to democratic politics, respect for institutions, and the peaceful conduct of political competition.
“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,” he added.
