Bashir Ahmad Warns APC Supporters Against Defending INEC Shortcomings to Avoid Biased Perceptions

Former aide Bashir Ahmad warns APC loyalists that defending INEC’s mistakes fuels claims of bias ahead of the 2027 elections. Read the details of his statement.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 11, 2026, 3:55 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politics Nigeria

A Call for Strategic Distance in Electoral Discourse

Bashir Ahmad, the former media aide to the presidency, has issued a public caution to the rank and file of the All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding their relationship with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In a statement released via his official X handle on Friday night, April 10, Ahmad urged party loyalists to refrain from justifying every administrative or procedural error made by the electoral body. He argued that the current trend of reflexive defense is counterproductive and damages the perceived legitimacy of the APC’s future electoral victories.

The Context of the ADC Leadership Dispute

The warning comes at a time of heightened tension following INEC’s decision to suspend recognition of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership, currently headed by Senator David Mark. While the APC officially backed INEC’s stance—even suggesting that the ADC’s potential absence from the 2027 ballot would be of little consequence—Ahmad believes this alignment is a strategic error. Opposition figures have already begun characterizing the situation as an attempt by the Tinubu administration to suppress political competition, a narrative Ahmad fears will stick if APC supporters continue to act as INEC’s unofficial spokespeople.

Concerns Over Perceived Institutional Bias

Ahmad’s primary concern is that a pattern of unconditional support from the ruling party creates the appearance of a "partisan partnership" between the commission and the government. He noted that such behavior provides ammunition for critics who claim the commission is already working to favor the APC in the 2027 general elections. By defending INEC’s shortcomings, Ahmad argues, supporters are inadvertently validating the claims of those who question the commission’s independence.