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| ADC denies INEC validation of state chairmen list. |
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has denied media reports claiming the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) validated and released a list of the party’s state chairmen across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi stated on Sunday that INEC issued no such confirmation, officially or unofficially .
Abdullahi described the circulating report titled "Coalition Update: INEC Confirms ADC State Chairmen Nationwide" as "fake news." He said it was engineered to create confusion within the party. He emphasized that the ratification of state leadership is an internal party process governed by its constitution. INEC only recognizes submissions made through proper channels after due diligence, he added .
This development occurs as ADC resolves internal tensions. INEC recently recognized former Senate President David Mark as the party’s national chairman. The court has also summoned Mark and the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, over disputes regarding leadership changes. ADC has denied claims of a court injunction barring INEC from recognizing the Mark-led faction. It labeled such reports as additional fake news from "desperate political jobbers" .
INEC continues its electoral activities amid this controversy. The commission has set dates for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Anambra State and nationwide. The CVR in Anambra will run from July 8 to July 17, 2025, ahead of the state’s governorship election in November. Nationwide CVR will resume on August 18, 2025, with online pre-registration, followed by in-person registration on August 25, 2025 .
INEC is also collaborating with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to integrate voter registration with the National Identification Number (NIN) system. This partnership aims to streamline citizen identification and potentially allow voting from any location in future elections. Pilot programs were conducted in Anambra State in July 2025, with plans to scale up nationwide .
The commission has scheduled bye-elections for August 16, 2025, in 16 constituencies across 12 states. These elections will fill vacancies resulting from deaths or resignations of national and state assembly members. INEC will deploy 30,451 officials for these elections, which involve 3,553,659 registered voters .
INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu confirmed his tenure will end in late 2025. He has served as chairman since 2015, overseeing the 2019 and 2023 general elections. His departure has sparked speculation about his successor, with President Bola Tinubu expected to appoint a new chair subject to Senate confirmation. Historical trends suggest the appointment may avoid regional bias, though Tinubu faces pressure over previous South West-favored appointments .
The ADC’s denial of fake news highlights ongoing challenges with misinformation in Nigerian politics. The party urges stakeholders to verify information through official channels and remain committed to internal democracy and discipline .