Vice President Kashim Shettima has criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over its ongoing online membership registration, claiming the platform has been flooded with fake identities.
The ADC had launched nationwide online membership registration on March 1 as part of preparations for the 2027 general election. The move was aimed at complying with provisions of the amended Electoral Act and the guidelines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party also directed existing members to update and revalidate their information in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
However, the exercise has reportedly been affected by several irregularities, including fake names, incorrect National Identification Numbers and mismatched photographs, raising concerns about the credibility of the process.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ADC acknowledged the anomalies and said it had corrected the issues discovered on its digital membership registration platform after widespread reports of fake entries.
Speaking on Wednesday during an interfaith breaking of fast hosted by President Bola Tinubu and attended by federal ministers, Shettima mocked the opposition party over the development.
“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.
The vice president also accused the opposition of spreading misinformation about the policies of the current administration.
Citing former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Shettima said, “Truth is so precious that it must be surrounded by a bodyguard of lies,” adding that false narratives were driving opposition politics in the country.
He urged political officeholders to actively defend the policies and achievements of the administration as the next election cycle approaches.
“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.
The former governor of Borno State also claimed that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is currently in a stronger political position than it was during the 2023 general election.
Shettima further dismissed claims that state governors were being pressured to defect to the APC, insisting that any political realignment was voluntary.
“Nobody is coercing the governors of Rivers State, Delta State, Kano State or any other state to join the APC. It is of their own volition because they have seen the light,” he added.
