Group Dismisses INEC Bias Allegations, Links ADC Crisis to Internal Power Struggles

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Tinubu Stakeholders Forum (TSF) has rejected allegations of bias against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing the claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Sokoto governor Aminu Tambuwal as baseless and politically motivated.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Ahmad Sajoh, and Secretary, Danjuma Sada, the group accused both politicians of attempting to sway public opinion ahead of the 2027 elections by casting aspersions on electoral institutions.

According to the forum, “these claims of bias and interference are not only false but represent a dangerous pattern of political actors seeking to delegitimise institutions whenever outcomes do not favour their ambitions.”

The group argued that the controversy surrounding the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is essentially an internal party dispute already before the courts, insisting that INEC’s role has been guided strictly by legal processes.

“INEC’s position, as publicly stated, is rooted in compliance with judicial directives,” the statement noted, adding that suggestions of a wider conspiracy to favour the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu were “dishonest and irresponsible.”

TSF further questioned the credibility of the critics, pointing to what it described as inconsistencies in their past records in public office. It said Atiku’s current stance as a defender of democratic values contrasts sharply with his time in government, which it claimed was marked by concerns over transparency and institutional independence.

On Tambuwal, the forum said his criticisms of poverty and governance challenges lacked weight when measured against conditions in Sokoto State during his tenure as governor.

The group also addressed the internal wrangling within the ADC, attributing the crisis to what it termed a struggle for control by political elites. It alleged that long-standing party members were being sidelined by new entrants seeking to take over the structure for personal ambitions.

“This, for us, is nothing short of a political hijack,” the forum stated, warning against what it described as a growing culture of “political carpetbagging.”

TSF maintained that political parties should be preserved as democratic institutions rather than treated as tools for convenience by politicians moving from one platform to another.

It urged Nigerians to remain discerning in evaluating political narratives, insisting that recent criticisms by opposition figures were driven more by personal political interests than genuine concern for democracy.

The group called on all stakeholders to respect due process and allow the courts to determine the leadership issues within the ADC, cautioning against statements that could erode public confidence in democratic institutions.