STAND Raises Alarm Over ADC Crisis, Accuses APC, INEC, Judiciary of Plot to Undermine Opposition

By Marilyn Mosiron Omoloju

The Strategic Alliance for National Development (STAND) has called on the Attorney General of the Federation and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently intervene in the lingering legal and leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other opposition parties, warning that failure to act could disenfranchise millions of Nigerians.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the group expressed concern over what it described as growing administrative and judicial bottlenecks surrounding the ADC’s internal affairs, noting that the situation has created uncertainty capable of weakening Nigeria’s democratic process.

STAND alleged the existence of what it termed a “triple-threat conspiracy” involving elements within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the judiciary, and INEC aimed at keeping the ADC and other opposition parties entangled in prolonged litigation and structural instability.

According to the statement signed by Acting National Secretary, Yinka Sotade, and Acting Publicity Secretary, Boluwaji Fajuyigbe Ezekiel, the silence of key institutions while opposition parties remain trapped in conflicting court orders raises serious concerns about political fairness and democratic inclusion.

“We are witnessing what appears to be a calculated attempt to use legal technicalities to sideline a viable alternative for the Nigerian people,” the group stated.

The coalition warned that any situation preventing political parties from fully participating in elections or fielding candidates would amount to a direct attack on the democratic rights of millions of Nigerians, particularly youths, professionals, and grassroots supporters who identify with opposition movements.

STAND further accused the judiciary of sending conflicting signals capable of crippling the operations of opposition parties, while urging the Attorney General to ensure that the justice system is not manipulated for political exclusion.

The group also questioned INEC’s neutrality, urging the electoral body to provide a clear and lawful framework for resolving disputes affecting opposition parties rather than maintaining what it described as “administrative silence.”

The coalition cautioned that continued injustice and politically motivated legal battles could threaten national stability and deepen public distrust in democratic institutions.

“Nigerians will not sit idly by while their democratic options are narrowed through backroom deals and judicial maneuvers,” the statement added.

STAND therefore demanded an immediate stakeholders’ meeting involving the Attorney General, INEC, and relevant political actors to clarify the legal standing of the ADC and ensure that no voter is denied representation due to unresolved internal crises within political parties.

The group maintained that Nigeria’s democracy can only thrive in an environment that guarantees fairness, transparency, and equal political participation, adding that it would continue to monitor developments and mobilize civil society groups where necessary to defend the integrity of the electoral process.

The Strategic Alliance for National Development (STAND) describes itself as a non-partisan coalition committed to promoting democratic values, social justice, and transparent governance in Nigeria.