The Enugu State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has asserted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no legal authority to prevent its candidates from running in the 2027 general elections. In a statement issued on Friday by Paul Anigbogu of the ADC media team, the party accused the Enugu State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Chukwuemeka Chukwu, of actively attempting to block their House of Assembly candidates.
Anigbogu confirmed that Chief Ocho Obodoeze remains the party’s recognized gubernatorial candidate and that all legislative hopefuls have been correctly registered on the official INEC portal. Citing an August 13, 2026, Court of Appeal ruling, the ADC argued that the commission lacks the power to disqualify candidates who have met all nomination requirements. The party noted that the appellate court previously ruled that administrative hurdles regarding portal access codes cannot disenfranchise a party that has held primaries and submitted valid names.
The ADC emphasized that the Electoral Act limits the role of INEC to observation, rather than the exclusion of legitimate candidates. Refuting claims made by electoral officials, the party maintained that their nomination process was lawful and successful. The organization characterized the actions of the Resident Electoral Commissioner as an attempt to undermine their electoral prospects, reaffirming their commitment to challenging the current administration in Enugu State.
