Dalung Slams INEC, Accuses Electoral Body of Acting as “Opposition” to ADC

|By Adejumo Adekunle

Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has launched a scathing attack on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing the electoral body of abandoning neutrality and positioning itself as an opposition force against the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Speaking during an interview on Trust TV’s Daily Politics, Dalung, a chieftain of the ADC, declared that INEC’s actions have crossed the boundaries of its constitutional mandate, describing the commission as acting with “impunity and recklessness.”

“The worst of all is that INEC has now declared itself the main opposition against the ADC,” Dalung said. “Ironically, that moment marked a surge in the number of people joining our party.”

He further alleged that the electoral body has consistently failed to operate within the confines of the law, insisting that its conduct raises serious questions about accountability and transparency.

“As a lawyer, I still cannot find where INEC derives the powers it is exercising,” he stated, accusing the commission of acting without restraint while maintaining what he described as an unjustified moral high ground.

Dalung also cited a specific case involving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleging that INEC ignored a valid court ruling concerning the suspension of party member Samuel Anyanwu.

“There was a court verdict confirming the suspension, but INEC has refused to obey that order,” he claimed.

The remarks add to growing criticism of INEC from political actors as Nigeria gradually approaches the 2027 general elections, with concerns mounting over the commission’s perceived independence and adherence to legal frameworks.