The Youth Wing of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has issued a three-day ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, demanding the restoration of the party’s leadership as recognized in 2025 or face nationwide civic action.
Addressing journalists on Monday at the party’s national
headquarters in Abuja, the ADC National Youth Leader, Balarabe Rufa’i, accused
INEC of undermining democracy and acting outside its constitutional powers.
Rufa’i described Nigeria as being “under democratic siege,”
alleging that institutions meant to safeguard the will of the people were being
compromised and weaponized against democratic principles.
He traced the crisis to a National Executive Committee, NEC,
meeting held on July 29, 2025, where the party dissolved its National Working
Committee and produced a new leadership led by David Mark. According to him,
INEC had initially verified and officially recognized the outcome in September
2025 without any dispute.
“Months later, individuals who had already resigned
resurfaced to challenge a process they had no legal standing in,” Rufa’i said,
adding that despite a Court of Appeal directive to maintain the last
uncontested position, INEC allegedly ignored the order and acted on pending
motions and non-binding communications.
He insisted that INEC lacked the constitutional authority to
interpret court rulings, describing its actions as “complicity, partisanship,
and institutional sabotage”.
The ADC youth leader called on the National Assembly to
urgently investigate the matter and consider appropriate sanctions, including
the possible removal of the INEC Chairman. He also urged the judiciary to
clarify its orders to prevent what he described as manipulation and to reaffirm
its authority as the sole interpreter of the law.
Rufa’i further appealed to the military to remain neutral,
emphasizing that the issue was strictly a civil and constitutional matter.
Reaffirming the party’s stance, he declared that the
leadership produced at the July 2025 NEC meeting remained the only legitimate
authority within the ADC, warning that any attempt to alter it without a final
court judgment would be “illegal, null, and void”.
The group outlined its demands, including the immediate
restoration of the David Mark-led leadership on INEC’s official portal, a
public apology from the commission, and a commitment to uphold neutrality and
the rule of law.
Rufa’i also called on the administration of Bola Ahmed
Tinubu to refrain from actions that could weaken opposition parties, warning
that such moves would threaten Nigeria’s democracy.
He warned that failure to comply within 72 hours would
trigger nationwide, peaceful protests, including the occupation of INEC offices
across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“We will not retreat, we will not be intimidated, and we
will not be silenced. This is bigger than ADC. This is about Nigeria,” he said.
This comes days after INEC derecognized ADC leadership over
a pending court dispute.
INEC chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, had explained that
if ADC goes ahead with its planned congresses and convention, it may affect the
opposition party in the 2027 general elections.
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