ADC Demands INEC Clarification on Ethnic Bias Allegations

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has formally requested the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to clarify allegations regarding ethnic bias in its recent staff postings and redeployments. The ADC claims to have received intelligence and complaints indicating that personnel changes in strategic departments may favor officials from the South-West region, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party alleged that several officers from northern Nigeria, who had been serving in departments such as Electoral Operations and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), were being reassigned to other departments. The ADC stated that these officers were being replaced by personnel from Lagos and other South-West states.

While the ADC is not accusing INEC of any improper agenda, it emphasized that allegations undermining public confidence in the electoral body require serious attention. The party warned that perceptions of sectional bias could jeopardize the neutrality of the commission and the credibility of the electoral process.