Following the decision by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to delist the leadership of the party from its portal and to cease from engaging with them, the African Democratic Congress, (ADC) has asked the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, to resign.
ADC said the call became imperative because “the the Commission chairman and commissioners have taken side with the ruling All Progressives Congress APC and cannot be trusted to conduct the 2027 general elections.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Senator David Mark, who reacted to the derecognition of the ADC said the party no longer have confidence in INEC.
“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.
“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.
“We also call on the international community to take note of INEC’s actions of April 1st, and of the restraint we are exercising today. 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.
“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.”
ADC vows to proceed with its congresses and convention
Meanwhile, despite INEC’s decision on dealing with its leadership, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said it would proceed with its planned congresses and national convention.
It would be recalled that, citing a recent Appeal Court ruling, INEC removed all ADC leaders from its portal on Wednesday, April 1.
Reacting to the decision, the party accused the electoral body of bias and undue interference in its internal affairs.
The ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, revealed this during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Thursday, April 2, where he maintained that ADC had fulfilled all legal requirements, including notifying INEC ahead of its scheduled activities.
“We have given INEC 21 days’ notice. They have accepted the notice. So, whether they come and continue with our congresses, we’ll continue with our convention,” Abdullahi said.
In its decision on Wednesday, the commission said it would no longer recognise Mark or his team as officials of the party pending the final determination of a case over the party’s leadership, currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Abdullahi, however, argued that INEC’s interpretation of the Appeal Court’s order over the party’s leadership crisis was flawed and politically motivated
He accused the commission of abandoning neutrality and aligning with external interests to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Today, INEC has been bamboozled. INEC has been intimidated. INEC has succumbed to intimidation, and they are determined to coronate President Bola Tinubu.”
The ADC spokesperson explained that the party had followed due process in its leadership transition, noting that the former chairman had resigned and that INEC was duly informed.
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