Rauf Aregbesola, the National Secretary of the David Mark leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of deliberately undermining the party’s national convention.

He also announced plans for a major multi-party opposition summit ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at the party’s national convention in Abuja, Aregbesola, a former Minister of Interior, described INEC’s refusal to monitor the exercise as unlawful and “criminal,” insisting that the commission had no legal basis for its decision.

According to him, the ADC fulfilled all statutory requirements as stipulated in Section 82 of the Electoral Act, including notifying INEC well in advance.

He said the party formally wrote to the commission on March 16, with the letter duly acknowledged on March 17, well beyond the 21-day notice required by law.

“The only condition under which a convention can be invalidated is failure to notify INEC. We have complied fully with the law. Therefore, INEC has no legitimate grounds to refuse monitoring,” Aregbesola said.

He further argued that the Court of Appeal ruling cited by INEC did not in any way restrain the commission from attending or monitoring the ADC convention, accusing the electoral body of misinterpreting the judgement to justify its actions.

Aregbesola warned that such conduct threatens Nigeria’s democracy, alleging that INEC is acting in concert with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He also accused the APC-led government of targeting prominent opposition figures, including Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Abubakar Malami, and Nasir El-Rufai, through state institutions in what he described as a pattern of political persecution.

“It is now a crime to belong to the opposition or even contemplate joining one. State agencies are being weaponised to harass and intimidate opposition leaders,” he said.

Highlighting broader political developments, Aregbesola disclosed that the ADC is spearheading efforts to convene a multi-party summit involving major opposition groups.

He said the summit aims to forge a united front capable of challenging the ruling party in 2027.

According to him, consultations are already ongoing with several political parties that share a common vision of rebuilding Nigeria based on security, economic stability, and social justice.

He maintained that a strong opposition remains critical to the survival of democracy, stressing that “a democracy without opposition is an autocracy.”

Aregbesola also took a swipe at the federal government over what he described as its failure to address key national challenges, including insecurity and economic hardship.

Despite the setbacks, he expressed confidence in the ADC’s preparedness, citing ongoing internal reforms such as constitutional review, membership revalidation, and policy development.

“We are building a robust, grassroots-driven political movement that is ready to offer Nigerians a credible alternative,” he said.

The ADC leadership called on the international community and democratic stakeholders to closely monitor developments in Nigeria, warning against actions that could undermine the country’s democratic foundations. (BusinessDay)