Nigeria's ADC asks INEC to prosecute official over forged portal access claim

Nigeria's African Democratic Congress (ADC) is calling for the prosecution of Nafiu Bala Gombe following his false claims of accessing the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) restricted nomination portal. The party welcomed INEC's swift clarification that the document circulated by Gombe, which purported to show uploaded candidates for the 2027 general election, was forged and his claim entirely false.

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomes the prompt clarification by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which unequivocally confirmed that the document circulated by Mr. Nafiu Bala purporting to show that he had obtained the Commission’s access code and uploaded candidates on behalf of the ADC for the 2027 general election was forged, and that the claim itself was entirely false.

In a statement, ADC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said the issue extends beyond Gombe's "continuous false statements" and his sponsors. It represents a "clear and unmistakeable attempt to mislead the Nigerian public" by fabricating documents that challenge the integrity of INEC, the nation's electoral management body. Abdullahi stressed that anyone claiming access to restricted INEC systems and exercising powers reserved for officials warrants immediate attention from law enforcement.

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The issue before us is no longer simply about the continuous false statements that have been issued by Nafiu Bala Gombe at the behest of his sponsors. It is about the clear and unmistakeable attempt to mislead the Nigerian public by making false claims and fabricating and sharing forged documents that directly impugn the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral management body.

The ADC urged INEC to take all necessary steps to investigate and prosecute Gombe and anyone involved in promoting the falsehood. Abdullahi warned that such claims are capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process, creating unnecessary political tension, and casting doubt on the security and credibility of INEC's systems. "This is not about the ADC alone. It is about protecting the integrity of public institutions," he stated.

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As a responsible party, the ADC therefore calls on INEC to take all the necessary steps to ensure that Mr. Nafiu Bala and anyone else involved in originating or promoting this falsehood are investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Abdullahi further implored INEC to view Gombe's actions as a "direct challenge to its institutional integrity." The commission's response, he noted, would test its resolve to defend its credibility and uphold the rule of law. The party highlighted the broader implications, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that individuals cannot make false claims involving critical national institutions without consequence and preserving public confidence in democratic processes.

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This is not about the ADC alone. It is about protecting the integrity of public institutions. It is about ensuring that no one believes they can make false claims that involve critical national institutions without consequences. More importantly, it is about preserving public confidence in the processes that underpin our democracy.