Aregbesola: INEC has no legal ground to boycott ADC convention

Rauf Aregbesola, National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of acting illegally by refusing to monitor the party’s national convention, insisting that all statutory requirements were fully met.

Speaking at the ADC convention on Tuesday at Abuja’s Rainbow Event Centre, Aregbesola said the commission’s absence was a dereliction of duty and suggested it reflected a partisan bias.

“We have fulfilled all legal obligations, including notifying INEC, submitting committee lists, and providing member registers in both soft and hard copies on March 17. There is no lawful reason for INEC to ignore our convention,” he said.

“Their refusal to attend amounts to a dangerous partisan outlook aimed at undermining a legitimate political process.”

The standoff stems from INEC’s April 1 decision to de-recognize factions within the ADC, following a March 12 Court of Appeal ruling that instructed the status quo be maintained amid ongoing leadership disputes. The Mark-led faction of the party had accused INEC of siding with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken opposition parties.

Aregbesola rejected these claims, emphasizing that the Court of Appeal judgment did not bar INEC from monitoring the convention.

“Hiding behind a court ruling that makes no reference to attending our convention is INEC assuming the role of a court, which it is not,” he said.

The ex-governor of Osun also reminded INEC that the ADC remains a registered party with active structures from polling units to the national level.

“ADC has not been proscribed by law or court order. Treating the party as non-existent is unconstitutional and unacceptable,” he added.

Aregbesola warned that such actions, if unchecked, could undermine the political process and allow the ruling APC to dominate unchallenged.