The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has formally petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), requesting the immediate removal or resignation of its chairman over allegations of partisanship, constitutional breaches, and conduct deemed threatening to Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
The petition, submitted through the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, accuses the INEC chairman of gross misconduct and calls for urgent action to preserve the neutrality and integrity of the electoral body. The move comes in the wake of INEC’s decision to derecognize the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the ADC, a development the party says undermines democratic principles.
The petition was lodged amid heightened political activity in Abuja, where opposition leaders staged a protest under the “Save Nigeria Democracy” banner. The demonstration saw prominent figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Senate President David Mark, and Rauf Aregbesola lead supporters from Maitama Roundabout to the INEC headquarters.
Protesters carried placards with messages including “Hands off our courts” and “Tinubu, let our democracy breathe,” expressing concern over perceived threats to the independence of Nigeria’s electoral process. During the march, Amaechi addressed participants from a vehicle, urging calm and peaceful conduct.
Atiku, in a post on his X account, described the protest as a patriotic effort to safeguard democracy. “Myself and other leaders of the ADC are peacefully protesting against the partisanship of the electoral umpire. Our stance is aimed at protecting our democracy and preventing the rise of a dictatorship,” he wrote.
Earlier, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi had called on Nigerians to participate, urging citizens who value democratic governance to reject any attempt to impose a one-party system.
Social media images and videos showed Obi, Kwankwaso, and other opposition leaders holding banners as demonstrators moved through major streets in the nation’s capital, emphasizing calls for free, fair, and transparent elections.
The ADC’s petition and accompanying protest mark a continuation of opposition efforts to challenge perceived bias by the electoral commission ahead of the 2026 elections, highlighting growing demands for accountability and impartiality in the conduct of Nigeria’s democratic process.
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