The Network of Civil Society Groups in Osun State has accused the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of orchestrating a crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to weaken opposition forces ahead of upcoming elections.
Speaking on behalf of the groups in Osogbo on Thursday, Comrade Yaya Ademola alleged that recent developments within the ADC were deliberately engineered through the manipulation of INEC and the misuse of court rulings to remove the party’s lawful leadership. According to the coalition, this interference is part of a broader agenda to suppress opposition parties and ensure an unchallenged path for the ruling government.
“We are here because democracy is under vicious assault and in grave danger in our land today,” Ademola said. He claimed that after the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) ratified leadership decisions on July 29, 2025, certain individuals “turned coat” after meeting with state officials to precipitate a phantom crisis.
He further alleged that litigations instituted by various factions are deliberate efforts designed to neutralize the ADC. “The INEC intervention on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, fully exposed the role of the state, its organs, and regrettably, the electoral umpire,” he added.
The coalition described the current situation as a “shenanigan” that cannot stand, warning that such actions typically lead to the “perdition of anti-democratic governments.” Ademola concluded by asserting the group’s resolve to demand a level playing field for all political parties to ensure free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria.