Tensions are mounting within the All Nigerian Community (ANC) Ghana ahead of its scheduled leadership transition on July 1, 2026, following serious allegations of electoral malpractice and diplomatic interference.

A disqualified presidential aspirant, Ophelia Mitchell has accused Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to Ghana, Dayo Adeoye, of influencing the outcome of the ANC presidential race in favour of another contender, David Ukueku.

According to Ophelia, her disqualification from the race was carried out without due process or explanation, despite her meeting all requirements, including payment of a GH¢500 nomination fee despite no provision made in the constitution for such purpose.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, she argues that the fee itself is unconstitutional, as it is not grounded in the ANC’s governing framework.

Her claims are supported by a formal petition submitted on March 3, 2026, by aggrieved aspirants and members of the South-South Community in Ghana.

The petition alleges that at least five aspirants were disqualified under unclear circumstances after paying the same fee.

The petitioners describe the entire nomination and screening process as opaque, lacking clearly defined criteria or any avenue for appeal.

Central to the controversy are allegations against Acting High Commissioner Dayo Adeoye, who is accused of breaching diplomatic neutrality by backing David Ukueku for the presidency.

The claims stem from a closed-door meeting held at the Nigerian High Commission in Accra on April 1, 2026. The meeting, brought together petitioners and some ANC executives to address concerns over the election process.

Participants at the meeting allege that although Ambassador Dayo Adeoye initially suggested a fresh nomination process as a possible solution, he later reversed his position and urged all parties to accept Ukueku as the “next and best” president of ANC Ghana.

Petitioners further allege that the Acting High Commissioner issued warnings to those opposing his stance, suggesting they could be perceived as not representing Nigerian interests in Ghana.

According to accounts presented in the petition, when Mitchell directly questioned whether his remarks constituted a threat, the ambassador allegedly responded in the affirmative.

The development reportedly drew resistance from some attendees, including Prince E. Brown, who stated that representatives from Akwa Ibom and Cross River states did not support the proposed endorsement.

Ambassador Dayo Adeoye is also said to have drawn parallels with Nigeria’s political system, advising dissatisfied aspirants to either pursue legal redress or concede and “leave it to God.”

Beyond allegations of interference, the petition outlines multiple concerns, including:

The imposition of a GH¢500 nomination fee deemed unconstitutional

The disqualification of five aspirants without written justification

A lack of transparency in the nomination and screening process

The petitioners argue that these actions amount to a deliberate attempt to predetermine the election outcome and defraud aspirants.

The aggrieved group is calling for urgent intervention from Nigerian authorities and relevant regional bodies. Their demands include:

An immediate investigation into the conduct of the Acting High Commissioner

Nullification of the current electoral process

Refund of all nomination fees paid by affected aspirants

Organisation of a fresh, transparent election supervised by an independent body

An official response from the Nigerian High Commission in Accra

Efforts to obtain an official response from the Nigerian High Commission in Accra have so far been unsuccessful.

However, copies of the petition have been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission.

AM

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