By Luminous Jannamike
ABUJA — The African Democratic Congress, ADC, on Thursday challenged the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Nigeria Police Force ahead of the 2027 general elections, accusing both institutions of ‘blurring the line’ between the Nigerian state and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The party said reports that a faction of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, led by Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, had been engaged by INEC for election logistics, alongside the appearance of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police at the launch of the pro-Tinubu City Boy Movement, had reinforced fears that institutions expected to stand above partisan politics were drifting into it.
The accusation was contained in a statement by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who called on both INEC and the police to explain the developments, insisting that public confidence in the electoral process was at stake.
“There are no longer any discernible boundaries between the Nigerian state and the ruling APC,” Abdullahi said.
The party demanded that INEC clarify the reported engagement of the NURTW faction, arguing that allowing individuals perceived as politically aligned with one of the contestants to transport election personnel and sensitive materials would erode confidence in the credibility of the polls.
It also cited President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration that ‘all is fair in war,’ saying the remark had heightened suspicion surrounding the reported logistics arrangement.
Turning to the police, the ADC questioned the attendance of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police at the launch of the City Boy Movement.
“The Nigeria Police Force belongs to the Nigerian people, not to any political party,” Abdullahi said, urging the Inspector-General of Police to explain whether the officer’s attendance was officially authorised and whether it was consistent with the political neutrality expected of senior police officers.
The party said it would write the INEC Chairman to demand a formal explanation of the reported logistics arrangement, maintaining that the electoral process must never become a vehicle for political patronage.
It urged the Inspector-General to either discipline the Lagos police commissioner if his attendance at the political event was unauthorised or, if it had official approval, extend the same latitude to senior officers invited to events organised by other political parties.
To stress that demand, the ADC invited the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory to its upcoming political event in Abuja in the interest of fairness and equity.
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