Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over what he described as bias by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the ongoing leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Atiku’s reaction follows INEC’s decision on April 1 to withdraw recognition from the party’s leadership factions, including the one led by David Mark and another headed by Nafiu Bala, a former national deputy chairman of the party.
The electoral body said its action was in compliance with a ruling by the Court of Appeal, which directed all parties involved to maintain the status quo ante bellum—that is, to revert to the situation that existed before the legal dispute was filed at the Federal High Court.
Speaking in an interview on BBC Newsday, Abubakar said the electoral commission acted outside its legal bounds by interpreting the court of appeal’s interim ruling on the party’s internal affairs.
“We are accusing them [INEC] 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 if the alleged bias was aimed at keeping Tinubu in power, Abubakar retorted: “For sure”.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election said INEC’s actions contradict supreme court ruling, which held that internal party matters are not subject to external interference.
“The commission has not acted according to law because we have a number of cases decided even by the supreme court that the internal affairs of political parties are not the prerogative of any agency other than the political parties themselves, but they have ignored the ruling of the highest court in the land,” Abubakar said.
Abubakar said INEC had no justification for removing the names of Mark’s ADC leadership from its website.
The former vice-president described the INEC’s decision as a threat to Nigeria’s democratic progress, warning of creeping authoritarianism.
“We [call it] dictatorship because we have seen evidence of government interference in the electoral process, even in the judicial process in the country,” he said.
The ADC chieftain said he had spent four decades fighting to establish democracy in the country, adding that the ruling party is trying to “completely overthrow” what has been achieved.
He said Nigeria must have free and fair elections without government interference and an impartial electoral umpire.
Abubakar also raised concerns about Nigeria’s security situation, questioning the government’s capacity and willingness to address it.
“Nigeria is a vast country and admittedly so, but we also have in terms of manpower what it takes to have enough resources to counter terrorism and illegal activities going on in the country,” he said.
“It is quite ironic and surprising that Nigeria cannot mobilise its armed forces to counter these activities.”
Abubakar claimed that there is a collusion in the fight against insecurity.
He said the menace may be lingering to “intimidate” people, particularly farmers and businessmen.
“You cannot travel; there is no security everywhere. It’s absolutely uncalled for. Nigeria has a huge population and young, educated men who can be employed in the security services and protect the country, but that is not happening,” he said.
“They scare people and do what they want to do,” he said, referring to the government.
Abubakar criticised the government over rising unemployment, warning that joblessness fuels crime.
“Unemployment is very prevalent in Nigeria today. There is no basis for that. Nigeria has enough resources to ensure there is minimal unemployment. We have vast unemployed young men and women, and there is a tendency for them to go into crime,” he said.
He called for stronger private sector engagement, noting that incentives should be provided to create jobs.
“There is enough investment in the private sector; incentives are given to the private sector to create jobs,” he said.
Abubakar added that Nigerians will elect the “right people” in 2027.
