ADC: Mark, Atiku, Obi, others protest at INEC
By John Okezie
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), National Chairman, Senator David Mark, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, as well as former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Wednesday, staged a protest at the National Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over the delisting of the opposition party’s leadership from the commission’s portal.
Mark, a former Senate President, while speaking at the protest, which was also attended by former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi,as well as other leaders of the ADC, faulted INEC’s action, saying that the electoral umpire erred.
INEC had, last week, derecognized the Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the ADC, citing an order by the Court of Appeal over a dispute in the leadership of the opposition party.
A former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, Nafiu Bala, has been laying claim to the leadership of the party after the emergence of the Mark-led NWC.
The former Senate President, in a position paper addressed to the INEC chairman, Joash Amupitan, reiterated the party’s demand for his resignation, so as to preserve the integrity of the commission.
Besides, Mark demanded a public apology from the INEC chairman, as well as the withdrawal of the commission’s correspondence, warning that if the electoral umpire fails to meet its demand, the opposition party will take lawful steps to ensure accountability.
According to him, “your immediate resignation from office in the interest of preserving the integrity of INEC; or
Your immediate removal by the appropriate constitutional authorities for gross misconduct, abuse of office, and violation of constitutional boundaries. We also reiterate our demand for:
“The immediate withdrawal of INEC’s offensive correspondence to the ADC;
A formal apology to the party’s; and
A clear commitment to refrain from further interference in the internal affairs of political parties.
“Take note that failure to comply will leave us with no option but to activate all lawful and constitutional mechanisms to ensure accountability, including judicial proceedings and coordinated civic action. The integrity of Nigeria’s democracy cannot and will not be sacrificed on the altar of institutional compromise.”
The ADC leader added that “your recent media interview was not only disgraceful and unbecoming of the high office you occupy but it also exposed a troubling willingness to descend into partisan controversy and to assume roles far outside the constitutional mandate of the Commission.
“Of grave concern is your attempt to constitute yourself into an interpreter of judicial pronouncements. This is wholly unacceptable. The interpretation of court judgments is the exclusive preserve of the judiciary.
“For the Chairman of INEC to publicly assume that role, offering partisan constructions of legal outcomes in a manner that appears to favour a particular individual, amounts to a serious constitutional breach and an affront to the doctrine of separation of powers.
“Your conduct, taken together with INEC’s earlier correspondence to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reinforces the perception that the Commission under your leadership has abandoned neutrality and has instead aligned itself with factional interests. This is not only improper; it is dangerous for the credibility of our electoral system.
“Furthermore, it is a matter of record that the individual in question attended the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ADC at which the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Chief Ralph Nwosu, of which he was a member, was duly dissolved.
“Having participated in that decision, any subsequent reliance on his former authority, position, or signature is fundamentally flawed, contradictory, and devoid of legal credibility.
INEC’s posture in this regard raises serious questions about bias and institutional overreach.
“INEC is not a court of law. It is not an advocate. It has no mandate to interpret judgments to suit a preferred narrative. Its duty is clear: to act strictly within the bounds of the Constitution and the law, with absolute neutrality and professionalism.
“Beyond these infractions, we unequivocally condemn what can only be described as a dangerous and unacceptable attempt to undermine and destroy Nigeria’s multi-party democratic system.
“Any action, policy, or conduct that tilts the electoral playing field, elevates an aggrieved party member to factional leader, or interferes with the internal autonomy of political parties strikes at the very heart of democratic pluralism. And all of these you have done.
“We state, without equivocation, that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will resist any such attempt—lawfully, firmly, and resolutely. Nigeria’s democracy was built on the foundation of political plurality, and no individual or institution will be allowed to erode that foundation through partisan conduct and administrative overreach.”
Atiku, in a statement shared on his X handle, Wednesday, said the protest was aimed at resisting alleged bias within the electoral commission and protecting the country’s democracy from authoritarian tendencies.
He said: “Myself and other leaders of the ADC are peacefully protesting against the partisanship of the electoral umpire. Our patriotic stance is aimed at safeguarding our democracy and preventing the enthronement of a dictatorship”, Atiku stated.
Similarly, Obi, while addressing party stalwarts, stressed the need to resist alleged drift by the country into a one party state.
According to him, “We, members and leaders of the ADC and other well-meaning Nigerians, lovers of democracy, are saying that our democracy must not be killed.
“We say no to a one-party system, and for that reason, today we are calling on Nigerians who believe in unity, peace and the security of our country to join us as we defend democracy in our land.”
