By Fredrick Ameh
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has intensified his criticism of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing the body of overreaching its mandate and displaying bias in the ongoing leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
At the center of the controversy is INEC’s decision to withdraw recognition of the ADC’s leadership structure, including the name of former Senate President David Mark as National Chairman, following a Court of Appeal directive regarding the party’s internal dispute. However, Atiku insists the electoral body has crossed a legal line.
Speaking in an interview on BBC Newsday, the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) argued that INEC misinterpreted the court ruling and acted beyond its constitutional limits by intervening in what he described as purely internal party affairs.
He further alleged that the commission’s actions reflect a partisan bias that could have wider political implications, especially ahead of future elections.
Atiku pointed out that Nigerian courts, including the Supreme Court, have consistently ruled that political parties retain exclusive authority over their internal structures. He warned that INEC’s interference undermines fundamental democratic principles and described the removal of ADC leadership details from INEC’s official portal as a troubling precedent that could weaken opposition politics and distort electoral neutrality.
Beyond the legal arguments, the former Vice-President broadened his critique to pressing national issues, raising concerns over worsening insecurity, unemployment, and governance failures. He argued that Nigeria’s rising joblessness is pushing more young people into crime, while questioning the government’s ability to effectively deploy the country’s human and security resources to tackle insecurity.
Atiku called for stronger private sector-driven job creation, urging the government to provide incentives that would unlock employment opportunities for Nigeria’s growing youth population. Despite the current challenges, he maintained confidence that the political climate would shift in 2027, insisting that Nigerians would ultimately vote for leadership change through credible elections.
The latest remarks add fresh political tension to an already heated opposition space, as disputes over party control and electoral regulation continue to deepen ahead of the next general election cycle.