The youth wing of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a robust warning to the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC), demanding the quick recognition of the celebration’s management led by David Mark.
The group gave the electoral physique a strict three-day deadline, threatening nationwide motion if their calls for are ignored.
The ultimatum was introduced on Monday throughout a press briefing held on the celebration’s nationwide secretariat in Abuja. The youths mentioned INEC should reverse its latest choice and restore the management construction that emerged from the celebration’s Nationwide Govt Committee (NEC) assembly held in July 2025.
The event follows INEC’s announcement on Wednesday that it will now not recognise the factions of the ADC led by David Mark and Nafiu Bala. The fee mentioned its choice got here after reviewing a judgment of the Court docket of Attraction.
Reacting to this, the ADC Nationwide Youth Chief, Balarabe Rufa’i, described INEC’s motion as a direct assault on the celebration’s inside democracy. He insisted that the NEC assembly of July 29, 2025, was validly performed and produced a brand new Nationwide Working Committee headed by David Mark.
Rufa’i defined that officers of INEC monitored the assembly and initially accepted its final result. He added that the fee went additional to add the names of the brand new management on its official portal on September 9, 2025.
“There was no dispute. No objection. No ambiguity. So what modified? Energy, strain, and political interference,” he mentioned.
He accused INEC of abandoning due course of by taking steps primarily based by itself interpretation of a court docket ruling in regards to the celebration’s management disaster.
“Let it’s acknowledged unequivocally: INEC has no constitutional authority to interpret court docket orders,” he mentioned.
“That obligation belongs strictly to the courts. What INEC has carried out just isn’t neutrality. It’s complicity, partisanship, and institutional sabotage.”
Rufa’i additional questioned the legality of INEC’s actions, particularly its reliance on letters and pending court docket motions.
“On what authorized foundation did INEC act on letters and an ex parte movement that has neither been heard nor decided by a court docket of competent jurisdiction?” he requested.
“Why did INEC act on pending motions, depend on letters as an alternative of binding court docket orders, and assume the powers of the judiciary? This isn’t a mistake, however a violation of the structure.”
The ADC youths additionally known as on the Nationwide Meeting to step into the matter. They urged lawmakers to research the actions of the electoral physique and train their oversight powers the place essential.
Rufa’i mentioned the lawmakers shouldn’t rule out constitutional measures, together with the recall or elimination of the INEC chairman, if discovered wanting.
He additionally appealed to the judiciary to obviously outline its orders to keep away from confusion and attainable manipulation by establishments.
As well as, the group urged the Armed Forces to stay skilled and keep away from involvement in political issues.
“We commend the Armed Forces for defending Nigeria. Nonetheless, we state clearly that the navy should stay impartial and avoid civic democratic actions. It is a civil and constitutional matter,” he mentioned.
The youth wing maintained that the management inaugurated after the July 29 NEC assembly stays the one reliable construction of the celebration.
In response to Rufa’i, any try to vary that management with no ultimate court docket choice is illegal.
He mentioned their calls for embrace the quick restoration of the Mark-led management on INEC’s portal, a public apology from the fee, and an finish to selections primarily based on letters or unresolved authorized motions.
Rufa’i additionally repeated the decision for the resignation or elimination of the INEC chairman, stressing that accountability have to be enforced.
He warned that failure to behave throughout the given timeframe would set off mass mobilisation throughout the nation.
“If INEC fails to conform inside 72 hours, we’ll provoke nationwide, peaceable, and lawful civic motion throughout all 36 states and the FCT,” he mentioned.
“ADC youths and anxious Nigerians, together with civil society organisations, will lawfully occupy INEC places of work nationwide and maintain civic resistance till full restoration of democratic order.”
He concluded with a warning in opposition to actions that might weaken opposition voices within the nation, noting that Nigeria’s democracy should not be diminished to a one-party system.
“Restore democracy or face the resolve of the Nigerian folks,” he added.