Shettima Criticises ADC Over Fake Entries on Digital Membership Portal

Vice President Kashim Shettima criticised the African Democratic Congress over irregularities on its digital membership platform, saying the registration process was flooded with fake details.

The ADC opened online membership registration on 1 March ahead of the 2027 general election and asked existing members to revalidate their records in line with the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC guidelines. The rollout later drew complaints over false identities, incorrect National Identification Numbers and mismatched photographs.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the party said it had corrected problems detected on the platform after reports of fraudulent entries.

Shettima addressed the matter on Wednesday during an interfaith breaking of fast hosted by President Bola Tinubu and attended by federal ministers. He said the same opposition figures who strongly pushed for electronic transmission of election results were now struggling to keep their own portal clean.

“The same Alliance for Democratic Confusion that was adamant that we must have electronic transmission of votes opened their portal for membership registration, and it was overwhelmed by an avalanche of fake names and fictitious identities,” he said.

He said opposition politicians were building their messaging around misinformation and distortions about federal policies.

“You and I know that, as Winston Churchill once said, ‘truth is so precious that it must be surrounded by a bodyguard of lies’. Lies, lies, lies — that is what is driving the opposition in this country,” Shettima said.

The Vice President also urged political appointees and other actors in government to speak more directly about programmes and outcomes under the Tinubu administration as the next election cycle approaches.

“Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the political season is around the corner. We are all political actors. We have to sell our government. We have to stand behind our administration,” he said.

Shettima, a former Borno State governor, said the ruling party is in a stronger political position than it was in 2023.

“Politically speaking, we are in a more comfortable position now than in 2023,” he said.

He also dismissed claims that governors were being pressured to defect to the APC.

“Nobody is coercing the governors of Rivers, Delta, Kano or any other state to join the APC. It is of their own volition because they have seen the light,” he said.