Mark Dismisses ADC Disaster As Occasion Leaders Protest At INEC HQ, Demand Chairman’s Removing
Nationwide Chairman of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has assured members of the social gathering and Nigerians, normally, that there isn’t a trigger for concern relating to the current challenges of the social gathering, because the state of affairs is dealt with and all the things is beneath management. The feedback have been contained in an announcement he issued to commemorate his 78th birthday.
Mark’s remarks got here as ADC leaders protested on the headquarters of the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) in Abuja on Wednesday, questioning the legitimacy of the electoral umpire, and demanding the resignation or sack of its chairman, Professor Josh Amupitan.
The protest drew the complete weight of the social gathering’s management, together with Mark; Nationwide Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi; 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Occasion (LP), Peter Obi; and chief of Kwankwasiya Motion, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,.
However mocking the opposition protest, Nationwide Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, stated opposition events that would not handle their inside affairs couldn’t be trusted with the fragile process of governing a fancy federation like Nigeria.
Mark, within the press assertion to have fun his 78th birthday, stated challenges have been a pure a part of any rising establishment.
“What’s vital is our collective resolve to beat them,” he added. He assured that the management of ADC was united, decided, and centered on strengthening the social gathering and upholding democratic values.
The ADC nationwide chairman said, “Let me reiterate that we’re totally dedicated to the survival of democracy and the event of our pricey nation, Nigeria.
“We’ll proceed to work tirelessly, guided by self-discipline, integrity, and patriotism, to make sure that our democratic establishments are preserved and that the dividends of democracy attain all our folks”
Mark stated at 78 he had been impressed greater than ever to contribute his quota to nationwide unity, peace, and progress. He appreciated God for the present of life, grace, and the journey of 78 years.
“I’m deeply grateful for His safety, steering, and numerous blessings over time,” he stated.
The previous senate president additionally appreciated his relations for his or her love, persistence, and help, including that their encouragement has been a relentless supply of energy to him.
ADC Leaders Protest at INEC Headquarters, Escalate Name for Amupitan’s Resignation
ADC intensified its confrontation with INEC at a high-profile protest by its leaders on the fee’s headquarters in Abuja, on Wednesday.
In a symbolic act of defiance, the social gathering opened the protest by singing Nigeria’s previous nationwide anthem, “Come up, O Compatriots.”
Shortly after, the social gathering marched to the INEC headquarters in Abuja, the place it delivered a strongly-worded letter to the INEC chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, demanding his instant resignation or elimination from workplace.
Within the letter dated April 8, 2026, the social gathering laid out a sequence of grave allegations, authorized and constitutional arguments, and political warnings.
The letter signed by the nationwide chairman, Mark, and nationwide secretary, Aregbesola, was handed over to an INEC official on the fee’s head-office.
They included the decision for instant resignation or elimination of Amupitan.
“The ADC didn’t hedge its place. It made a direct and unequivocal demand: the INEC Chairman should both resign instantly or be eliminated,” the opposition social gathering demanded.
ADC stated its demand for Amupitan’s resignation was not as a political disagreement, however a matter of institutional integrity, citing alleged gross misconduct, abuse of workplace, and clear violations of constitutional boundaries.
In its view, the credibility of INEC itself was now at stake.
On the coronary heart of the letter was an allegation that INEC, beneath Amupitan’s management, was now not performing as a impartial umpire.
ADC said that the fee’s actions and correspondence urged alignment with factional pursuits throughout the social gathering. ADC warned that this undermined public belief within the electoral course of and raised fears concerning the equity of future elections.
The social gathering took subject with what it referred to as the chairman’s try and interpret court docket rulings in public.
ADC stated that crossed a constitutional line, stressing that solely the judiciary has the authority to interpret its judgements.
In line with ADC, any try by INEC to interpret court docket judgements, particularly in a means that seems partisan, quantities to a breach of the doctrine of separation of powers.
Past the instant dispute, ADC positioned INEC’s actions in a broader democratic context. It warned that interference within the inside affairs of political events, or the elevation of factional actors, threatened the muse of Nigeria’s multi-party system. The social gathering described this as not simply improper, but additionally harmful to democratic pluralism.
ADC additional rejected the legitimacy of people claiming management outdoors its recognised construction.
It identified that such people had beforehand participated in social gathering processes that dissolved the previous management.
In consequence, the social gathering stated any try and now depend on the identical authority was contradictory and legally untenable.
To strengthen its case, ADC laid out an in depth timeline of its inside choices in 2025.
It highlighted its Nationwide Govt Committee (NEC) and Nationwide Working Committee (NWC) conferences that have been attended by INEC officers, correctly documented, and formally communicated to the fee.
The social gathering emphasised that INEC itself had acknowledged these processes and even mirrored the brand new management on its official portal, reinforcing its declare to legitimacy.
ADC’s Letter Concluded with Clear Escalation Pathway, Obi Declares
Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, warned that INEC’s failure to satisfy ADC’s calls for, as contained in its protest letter, would set off a coordinated response, together with judicial proceedings and broader civic motion.
It was a sign that the social gathering was ready to take the battle past correspondence, to each authorized and public arenas.
“This letter marks a major escalation in tensions between the ADC and INEC, transferring from procedural disputes to a direct problem to institutional authori-ty,” he stated.
Obi urged Nigerians to hitch ADC to reject one-party state and defend the nation’s democracy
Obi made the decision on X, on Wednesday, the place he urged residents to unite in defence of democratic values.
He said, “We, members and leaders of the ADC, and different well-meaning Nigerians, lovers of democracy, are saying that our democracy should not be killed.
“We are saying NO to a one-party system and for that, at present, we’re calling out Nigerians who consider in unity, peace, and safety of our nation to hitch us as we defend democracy in our land.”
Dasuki: Amupitan’s INEC a Threat to Nigeria’s Democracy
The member representing Kebbe/Tambuwal constituency within the Home of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, accused INEC beneath Amupitan of turning into a threat to Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
Dasuki made the assertion whereas becoming a member of ADC in Sokoto State, citing the fee’s alleged collusion with these plotting to stifle opposition events and switch Nigeria right into a one-party state.
The lawmaker’s choice to hitch ADC got here amid a wave of defections from different events, together with Peoples Democratic Occasion (PDP), Dasuki’s former social gathering.
He cited PDP’s protracted management disaster as motive for his exit, stating that the social gathering’s capability to perform successfully as an opposition platform has been weakened.
Dasuki particularly pointed to INEC’s refusal to recognise the Mark management of ADC as proof of the fee’s plot to stifle opposition.
He said, “The refusal to recognise respectable management inside opposition events shouldn’t be unintentional. It’s a part of a broader, well-orchestrated plan to weaken various voices and be sure that just one social gathering stays viable forward of 2027.”
The lawmaker warned that if left unchecked, such tendencies might reverse Nigeria’s democratic beneficial properties.
He referred to as on residents, civil society organisations, and the worldwide group to defend democratic establishments and uphold the rule of legislation.
“We should rise collectively to withstand any try and derail our democracy. Nigeria belongs to all of us, to not a choose few in search of to monopolise energy,” Dasuki declared.
Yilwatda: ADC, Others That Can’t Handle Their Affairs Can’t Be Trusted with Nigeria
Nationwide Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, stated African Democratic Congress (ADC) and different events that would not handle their inside affairs, reconcile tendencies, implement self-discipline, or construct consensus, couldn’t be trusted with the fragile process of governing Nigeria. Yilwatda said this identified in Abuja whereas talking on key points affecting the social, political and {economic} administration of the nation.
The chairman, in an announcement by his Particular Adviser of Media and Communications Technique, Abimbola Tooki, insisted that in a interval of nationwide transition and democratic consolidation, Nigeria couldn’t afford to gamble its future on confusion, instability, or politically disoriented options.
Commenting on the inner crises at the moment ravaging the primary opposition events, Yilwatda stated the state of affairs was a transparent and disturbing reflection of their lack of preparedness for nationwide management.
He said, “The persistent implosions, factional wars, authorized battles, ego clashes and ideological vacancy that outline many opposition events at present are usually not simply political setbacks, however warning indicators of deeper structural weak point and managerial incompetence,”
Yilwatda claimed that it could be harmful and politically irresponsible for Nigerians handy over the way forward for the nation to political actors who had repeatedly proven that they might not preserve order inside their very own home.
He added, “A celebration that can’t govern itself can not govern Nigeria. If a political platform is continually trapped in self-inflicted disaster, consumed by inside sabotage, and weakened by poor administration, it merely has no enterprise asking Nigerians for the mandate to steer this nation.
“Whereas political events should adjust to the legislation and electoral laws, the APC desire is at all times to defeat its opponents on the poll field and never in backroom preparations, procedural traps or authorized technicalities.”
The chairman emphasised that true democratic legitimacy got here from earned victory, not engineered outcomes, and that historical past was kinder to leaders and events whose mandates have been clearly validated by the folks.
He said, “Victory is sweeter when it’s earned. It’s extra respectable when it’s freely given by the folks. As a celebration, we consider that the strongest mandate is one secured by way of persuasion, efficiency, organisation and political engagement.”
The APC nationwide chairman stated Nigerians have to be discerning sufficient to separate noise from capability, propaganda from preparation, and opportunism from real management.
He careworn that the ruling social gathering remained the one actually nationwide, deeply structured, ideologically resilient and electorally sturdy political platform able to delivering on the current aspirations and future expectations of Nigerians.
He said that APC had over time demonstrated the institutional maturity, nationwide unfold, political self-discipline, and administrative capability required to handle the complicated calls for of a nation as giant, various, and strategically vital as Nigeria.
He stated the social gathering was not merely making ready for the subsequent election cycle, however was actively working to deepen governance, strengthen democratic tradition, enhance public belief, and construct a stronger basis for nationwide growth.
Yilwatda maintained that whereas governance naturally got here with pressures, contestations and troublesome choices, APC remained dedicated to supporting insurance policies and reforms that may place Nigeria on the trail of long-term stability, productiveness and prosperity.
He said that the duty earlier than the present administration was not a beauty one, however a severe nation-building duty that required braveness, persistence, sacrifice, and political steadiness.
Yilwatda stated, “The All Progressives Congress shouldn’t be an advert hoc coalition held collectively by comfort. It’s a examined and enduring political machine, constructed on construction, unfold, expertise and the capability to reply to the true wants of Nigerians.
“We’re the one social gathering with the institutional energy and nationwide attain to hold the burden of each the current and the way forward for this nation.”
Yilwatda said that APC, because the governing social gathering, totally understood the burden of the historic obligation and would proceed to supply the political spine required to maintain reforms and ship democratic dividends to Nigerians.
He added that whereas APC continued to evolve, reform and strengthen its inside processes, many opposition events remained trapped in a cycle of instability that made them unfit for severe democratic competitors.
He additional stated a repositioned and assured APC was not afraid of political competitors and didn’t search victory by way of the technical disqualification of opponents.
Yilwatda stated APC believed in democratic contest, common legitimacy, and the ability of persuasion, including that the social gathering derives higher energy and credibility when it wins elections by way of the belief and help of the Nigerian folks.
On the present safety state of affairs within the nation, Yilwatda described the brand new part within the trial of over 500 terrorism-related suspects as a serious demonstration of state seriousness, institutional resolve, and respect for the rule of legislation.
He stated the event marked an vital shift within the nationwide safety structure, from merely asserting arrests to making sure judicial accountability and lawful penalties for acts of terror and violent criminality.
In line with him, this isn’t only a safety story but additionally a governance story, a rule-of-law story, and a public belief story.
He defined that for residents to have faith within the state, they have to see that felony acts weren’t solely confronted militarily, but additionally prosecuted credibly and transparently throughout the framework of the legislation.
Yilwatda said, “What we’re seeing is motion past arrests in the direction of institutional accountability. That issues enormously. It exhibits that the Tinubu administration shouldn’t be solely combating insecurity on the battlefield, but additionally within the courtroom, within the intelligence house, and throughout the wider framework of state establishments.”
Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale, Sunday Ehigiator and Onuminya Harmless
Times Nigeria