ADC Chieftain Ladan Salihu Lambasts INEC Over Leadership Crisis Handling Accusing Electoral Body Of Undermining Political Integrity

ADC's Ladan Salihu slams INEC for "scandalous" handling of party disputes, claiming the commission has lowered the integrity of Nigerian politics.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 3, 2026, 8:10 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Sun Nigeria

A Scathing Assessment Of Electoral Oversight

The integrity of Nigeria’s electoral umpire has come under intense fire from high ranking members of the opposition as the 2027 political cycle approaches. Ladan Salihu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has publicly accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of systematically lowering the standards of political integrity in the country. Appearing on Channels Television’s "Morning Brief," Salihu articulated a sense of national embarrassment regarding the commission’s recent interventions in the internal affairs of political parties, suggesting that the current trajectory of the body is a disservice to the citizenry.

The ADC Leadership Conundrum

The primary catalyst for Salihu’s criticism is the ongoing and increasingly complex leadership crisis within the ADC. The party has been fractured by internal disputes, leading to conflicting claims of authority that INEC has struggled to mediate or resolve decisively. Salihu described the commission’s handling of these disputes as "scandalous," arguing that the electoral body has failed to maintain a neutral and stabilizing presence. Instead of providing clarity, he contends that INEC's recent decisions have only served to further complicate the legal and political standing of the party’s various factions.

Allegations Of Legal Misuse

A significant portion of Salihu’s grievance centers on the perceived manipulation of legal processes by the electoral commission. He alleged that INEC is hiding behind complex judicial technicalities to justify actions that are politically motivated or administratively incompetent. This misuse of the law, according to the ADC chieftain, is a dangerous development that threatens to alienate the electorate and diminish faith in the fairness of future contests. He warned that once the public views the umpire as a compromised actor, the foundational stability of the nation’s democracy is at risk.