Leaders and members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Tuesday stormed the streets of Abuja in a protest in opposition to the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC), accusing the electoral physique of actions they described as dangerous to Nigeria’s democracy.
The demonstration, tagged #OccupyINEC, drew high political figures and occasion loyalists who gathered on the Maitama Roundabout to register their grievances.
Amongst these current had been former Senate President, Senator David Mark; former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola; Labour Social gathering’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi; former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso; and ex-Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye. Their presence gave weight to the protest, which shortly gained public consideration.
On the centre of the protest was a robust demand by the ADC for the resignation or elimination of the INEC Chairman, Professor Joseph Amupitan, SAN. The occasion accused him of partisanship, constitutional violations, and interfering within the inside affairs of the occasion.
Addressing the group, ADC leaders mentioned the fee’s latest actions had raised critical considerations about its neutrality. They argued that the chairman had stepped past his constitutional duties, particularly in issues regarding inside occasion disputes.
“Your latest media interview was not solely disgraceful and unbecoming of the excessive workplace you occupy, nevertheless it additionally uncovered a troubling willingness to descend into partisan controversy,” the occasion mentioned in an announcement directed on the INEC chairman.
The occasion confused that the controversy stemmed from what it described because the chairman’s try and publicly interpret court docket rulings.
In keeping with ADC, such accountability belongs strictly to the judiciary and never the electoral physique.
“The interpretation of court docket judgments is the unique protect of the judiciary. For the Chairman of INEC to publicly assume that function quantities to a critical constitutional breach,” the occasion said.
ADC additional claimed that latest communications from INEC to the occasion had deepened suspicion that the fee would possibly not be appearing as an unbiased umpire. The occasion warned that such actions may weaken public belief within the electoral course of.
“This isn’t solely improper; it’s harmful for the credibility of our electoral system,” the occasion warned.
Offering background to its claims, ADC leaders pointed to a sequence of selections taken in 2025, together with Nationwide Govt Committee (NEC) conferences that produced the present management beneath Senator David Mark.
They maintained that the processes had been clear and monitored by INEC officers with out objections on the time.
In keeping with the occasion, the outcomes of these conferences had been formally communicated to INEC, which acknowledged and up to date its information accordingly. The occasion added that the fee had additionally confirmed the legitimacy of the method in a sworn affidavit earlier than the Federal Excessive Court docket.
Nevertheless, ADC alleged that there have been now makes an attempt to stress officers to reverse their earlier positions.
“We’re conscious of efforts being made to recant their testimonies which contradict the agenda you might have determined to pursue. That is, certainly, unconscionable,” the occasion mentioned.
Whereas acknowledging the efforts of some officers inside INEC, the occasion insisted that the actions of the chairman had broken the picture of the fee and eroded public confidence.
“However you might have appeared keen to put their sacrifices to waste, which at the moment has successfully introduced the fee into disrepute,” it added.
The ADC then rolled out a listing of six calls for it expects the fee to satisfy. These embody the fast resignation or elimination of the INEC chairman, withdrawal of what it described as “offensive” correspondence despatched to the occasion, and a proper apology from the fee.
The occasion additionally demanded a transparent dedication from INEC to keep away from interference within the inside affairs of political events. It warned that failure to conform would set off each authorized and civic actions.
“Take word that failure to conform will go away us with no choice however to activate all lawful and constitutional mechanisms to make sure accountability,” the occasion said.
It added that judicial proceedings and coordinated civic mobilisation had been already being thought-about as a part of its subsequent steps.
“The integrity of Nigeria’s democracy can not and won’t be sacrificed on the altar of institutional compromise,” the occasion mentioned.