Prominent activist and African Democratic Congress (ADC) leader Aisha Yesufu has accused officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of accepting bribes to remove the recognised leadership of the party.

The controversy stems from a bitter dispute within the ADC over its leadership structure, which erupted after INEC froze recognition of the party’s leaders following conflicting documentation and ongoing court cases. The party’s Youth Wing has since issued a 72‑hour ultimatum to INEC to restore the previously recognised leadership or face nationwide civic action.

Yesufu, who serves as a deputy chairman within the ADC leadership committee, claimed that the electoral body’s decision was influenced by improper payments and external pressures aimed at sidelining the party’s legitimate leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.

She and other party officials argue that INEC’s actions violate due process and democratic norms, describing the commission’s conduct as partisan. The party has threatened peaceful demonstrations nationwide if its leadership is not reinstated on the electoral body’s official platform.

In response, INEC has maintained that it is acting in accordance with judicial directives and regulatory obligations, with civil society groups defending the commission’s neutrality and urging political actors to resolve disputes through legal channels rather than public pressure.