ADC’s Letter to Chief Justice Verified, Election Exclusion Claim Mostly True, INEC Removal Unsubstantiated

Claim 1 – ADC wrote to the Chief Justice requesting an expedited judgment Evidence: Multiple independent news outlets reported a letter dated 28 April 2026 addressed to Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere‑Ekun. The letter explicitly asked the court to deliver its judgment on the ADC leadership crisis within three days. The appeal, heard on 22 April 2026, had its judgment reserved pending a decision. Verdict: True. Analysis: Consistent coverage across online news, watchdog reports, and a national news agency confirms the letter’s existence and purpose. No source contradicts the claim, giving high confidence in its accuracy.

Claim 2 – INEC removed Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its portal on 1 April 2026, citing a Court of Appeal judgment Evidence: Comprehensive searches of major Nigerian news sites, INEC press releases, and the cited web sources (Ripples Nigeria, The Nigerian Voice, ICIR Nigeria, NewsVerge) reveal no mention of such a removal. Official INEC communications and mainstream coverage of the ADC case do not list any portal changes on the stated date. Verdict: Unverifiable. Analysis: The absence of any reporting on a high‑profile removal suggests the claim lacks supporting evidence. Given INEC’s transparency requirements, a change of this magnitude would have been widely reported, indicating the claim is likely false or unsubstantiated.

Claim 3 – Failure of the Supreme Court to rule within three days of 28 April 2026 could exclude the ADC from the 2027 elections Evidence: The ADC’s letter warned that a delayed judgment would “grave and irreversible risk” the party’s participation in the 2027 polls. The party cited the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) election timetable, noting that missing the deadline would prevent it from meeting statutory requirements for ballot access. Verdict: Mostly true. Analysis: The claim mirrors the ADC’s own warning and is corroborated by multiple reports. While the legal outcome depends on the court’s eventual decision, the party’s stated risk aligns with electoral law that requires parties to resolve leadership disputes before filing candidate lists.

What to watch next – Monitor the Supreme Court’s ruling deadline and any subsequent INEC communications, which will determine whether the ADC secures ballot access for the 2027 general elections.