The factional leadership of the African Democratic Congress on Saturday criticised key opposition figures for mounting pressure on the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act 2026, arguing that it wasn’t the true position of the party.
The faction also blamed the party’s poor performance in the recently concluded 2026 Abuja Area Council elections on alleged violations of due process by some coalition partners.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the National Chairman of the ADC faction, Nafiu Gombe, expressed disappointment that certain elements within the coalition operated outside the party’s constitutional framework, a situation he said contributed to the party’s defeat at the polls.
Gombe also used the opportunity to formally disassociate what he called the authentic leadership of the ADC from an international press conference recently conducted by opposition figures, who demanded an urgent amendment to the Electoral Act.
He said, “The authentic national leadership of the African Democratic Congress distances itself entirely from the international press conference held by these factions. They do not speak for our party.”
The factional chairman criticised the David Mark-led coalition within the party for accusing the National Assembly of overstepping its bounds in enacting the 2026 Electoral Act, insisting that the legislature acted within its constitutional mandate.
“The National Assembly is empowered by the constitution to establish the Electoral Act. Accusing them of performing their duty is misguided. Rather than attacking the legislature, our coalition partners should focus on normalising and formalising their relationship with our great party,” Gombe added.
He further asserted that the international community had ignored the appeals of the dissenting voices due to what he described as their undemocratic conduct and internal power struggles.
In a final appeal to party faithful, Gombe urged genuine members and coalition partners to return to ADC ward offices nationwide to register formally and strengthen the party’s grassroots structure.
He added, “Your power mongering and refusal to reconcile aspirations for the betterment of the country are the main reasons the international community ignores your appeals. Politics should be about service, not self-aggrandisement.
“We urge you to come back home. Help us rebuild and salvage this nation from the grassroots. The Authentic ADC remains the vehicle for true change in Nigeria.”
The fresh internal rift comes on the heels of renewed agitation by leaders of the ADC and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, who on Thursday demanded an immediate amendment of the Electoral Act 2026, describing some of its provisions as anti-democratic and skewed ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Senate swiftly dismissed the agitation, advising opposition leaders, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi, to channel their concerns through the National Assembly rather than the media.
At a press conference in Abuja, the National Chairman of the NNPP, Ajuji Ahmed, argued that contentious provisions of the law must be expunged without delay.
Under the Electoral Act 2022, political parties could nominate candidates through direct primaries involving all registered members, indirect primaries conducted by delegates, or by consensus arrangements reached by party leaders.
However, the Electoral Act 2026, recently passed by the National Assembly and assented to by Bola Tinubu on February 18, restricts parties to only direct primaries and consensus options.
The new law also shortens campaign periods and timelines for primaries, while funding for the Independent National Electoral Commission will now be released six months before an election, instead of the previous 12 months.
Opposition leaders have alleged that certain provisions of the Act were designed to advantage the ruling party ahead of the 2027 polls, a claim dismissed by the Senate and now faulted by the ADC factional leadership, which insists the legislature acted within its constitutional powers.
