From Victor Osula, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has asked the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, to resign, citing what it described as a loss of confidence in the Commission’s leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The call was made on Thursday in Abuja by the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, during a world press conference attended by prominent party chieftains, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
Mark said the demand had become imperative because, according to the party, the INEC leadership had allegedly taken sides with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), raising concerns about its ability to conduct credible elections.
“We demand the immediate resignation or sack of the INEC Chairman, Professor Amupitan, and all the National Commissioners. We no longer have confidence in them. We are convinced that they are incapable of conducting any credible election”, he said.
Reacting to INEC’s decision to de-recognise the party’s leadership, Mark maintained that the ADC would continue to carry out its activities in line with the law.
“Let us also make it clear: we are proceeding with our party programmes, because there is nothing under the law that makes INEC’s attendance a mandatory requirement. We have duly served INEC notice, and we will proceed accordingly”, he added.
He also called on the international community to take note of recent developments, urging global stakeholders to hold accountable any actions that could undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.
“We urge them to recognise the clear threat to Nigeria’s democracy and stability, and to hold accountable those who are undermining the integrity of the electoral process”, Mark stated.
Addressing Nigerians directly, the ADC chairman described the moment as critical to the country’s democratic future.
“We call on Nigerians to defend our democracy. This is a defining moment. Stand firm. Speak out. Participate. Resist any attempt to impose a one-party state on Nigeria. Nigeria belongs to all of us, and together, we must protect it”, he said.
INEC had earlier announced plans to delist the Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) and suspend dealings with all factions of the party pending the determination of a substantive suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
In a statement signed on Wednesday by the Commission’s Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, the electoral body said the decision followed a review of relevant court rulings, including a directive to maintain the status quo in the leadership dispute within the ADC.
Haruna noted that the Commission’s action complied with the judgement of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/145/2026: Senator Mark v. Nafiu Bala Gombe & Ors., as well as the pending case before the Federal High Court. He further disclosed that INEC had received separate correspondence dated March 16 from two law firms representing different interests within the party, highlighting the complexity of the ongoing leadership tussle.
