Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of misinterpreting the law and acting with bias in its handling of the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
INEC had earlier announced on April 1 that it would no longer recognise the leadership of the party led by David Mark, as well as the faction headed by Nafiu Bala. The commission said its decision was based on a Court of Appeal directive asking all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum—that is, the situation before the case was filed at the Federal High Court.
However, speaking during an interview on BBC Newsday, Atiku argued that INEC overstepped its authority by interpreting the court’s ruling on internal party matters.
“We are accusing them of misinterpreting the law, even though it is not their responsibility to do that. The court has already interpreted the law. We are also accusing them of bias,” he said.
When asked whether the alleged bias was intended to favour President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Atiku responded affirmatively.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) maintained that INEC’s actions contradict several Supreme Court rulings which hold that internal party affairs should not be interfered with by external bodies.
According to him, the removal of the names of the Mark-led executives from INEC’s website was unjustified and poses a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
“We call it dictatorship because we have seen evidence of government interference in both the electoral and judicial processes,” he said.
Atiku further warned that such developments could undermine decades of democratic progress, adding that the country must uphold free and fair elections with an independent electoral body.
He also raised concerns about the worsening security situation in Nigeria, questioning the government’s ability to effectively tackle insecurity. He suggested that the situation may be deliberately allowed to persist, thereby instilling fear among citizens, particularly farmers and business owners.
“You cannot travel safely; insecurity is everywhere. It is unacceptable,” he said.
On the economy, Atiku pointed to rising unemployment as a major driver of crime, stressing that Nigeria has the resources to create jobs if properly managed. He called for stronger support for the private sector through incentives that would encourage job creation.
Despite his criticisms, Atiku expressed optimism about the country’s future, saying Nigerians would ultimately choose credible leaders in the 2027 general elections.
