The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the arrest, investigation and prosecution of Nafiu Bala Gombe after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disowned his claim that he had obtained access to the commission’s nomination portal and uploaded candidates for the 2027 general election.
The party made the demand in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, following INEC’s clarification that the document circulated by Bala Gombe to support his claim was forged and that the assertion itself was false.
According to the ADC, the matter has gone beyond what it described as a series of false statements allegedly made by Bala Gombe and now constitutes a serious attempt to mislead the public and undermine confidence in Nigeria’s electoral management body.
“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 unmistakable 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 statement said.
The party welcomed INEC’s prompt response, noting that the electoral commission had unequivocally stated that the document purportedly showing that Bala Gombe had obtained access codes and uploaded ADC candidates was forged.
ADC argued that publicly claiming access to INEC’s restricted nomination platform and exercising powers reserved for duly recognised party officials was a grave matter that should attract the attention of law enforcement agencies.
“To publicly claim that one has gained access to INEC’s restricted nomination platform and exercised powers reserved for duly recognised party officials is a grave matter. As INEC has now confirmed, Nafiu Bala Gombe’s actions raise serious questions that deserve the immediate attention of law enforcement agencies,” the party stated.
It warned that such claims could undermine public confidence in the electoral process, create unnecessary political tension and cast doubt on the security and credibility of INEC’s systems.
The opposition party consequently urged INEC to refer the matter to relevant security agencies and ensure that everyone involved in originating or promoting the alleged falsehood was brought to justice.
“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 said.
The party stressed that the issue was not solely about the ADC but about protecting the integrity of public institutions and preserving confidence in democratic processes.
“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,” the statement added.
The ADC further described Bala Gombe’s alleged action as “a direct challenge” to INEC’s institutional integrity and warned that failure to act decisively could set a dangerous precedent.
According to the party, allowing individuals to falsely claim access to the commission’s secured systems without consequences could encourage similar attempts in the future, potentially creating confusion, inflaming political tensions and eroding public trust in the electoral process.
The party reaffirmed its commitment to democratic politics, respect for institutions and peaceful political competition, expressing confidence that the relevant authorities would take appropriate action to safeguard the credibility of the country’s electoral system.
