The Obidient movement has called for the resignation of Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and declared a nationwide protest over the delisting of the David Mark-led executives of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
BACKGROUND
Following the protracted leadership crisis that has rocked
the ADC, culminating in endless legal disputes between the David Mark faction
and the Nafiu Bala Gombe group, INEC on Wednesday said it would no longer
accept correspondence from either factions.
The commission premised its decision on the March 12
judgment of the court of appeal, which it said, directed parties to maintain
the status quo on the leadership dispute until the matter is decided by the
trial court.
In a statement, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC commissioner for
information and voter education, said the commission would also refrain from
engaging with both groups or monitoring their meetings, congresses, and
conventions pending the determination of the case before the federal high
court.
In furtherance of its resolution, INEC removed the names of
the Mark-led ADC executives from its portal, saying the move was pursuant to
the appellate court order
The decision sparked outrage on social media, with the
Mark-led ADC rejecting INEC’s interpretation of the judgment.
In a statement, Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC national publicity
secretary, alleged that the electoral body acted under pressure from “a
government panicked by the opposition momentum despite its efforts to destroy
all opposition parties and foist a one-party rule on Nigeria”.
OBIDIENT MOVEMENT CALLS FOR PROTEST
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, Yunusa Tanko, national
coordinator of the Obidient Movement, said the group would commence a
nationwide protest tagged #OccupyINEC.
“There are moments in the life of a nation when silence
becomes dangerous and inaction becomes complicity. Nigeria has arrived at such
a moment,” the statement reads.
The group alleged that INEC, “which should stand as an
impartial guardian of the people’s will, is increasingly perceived as
compromised under the present administration,” warning that “when institutions
lose credibility, the will of the people is endangered”.
The movement demanded “the resignation of the INEC Chairman
for gross abuse of office, loss of public trust, and failure to uphold the
neutrality required of that office,” alongside an end to “political
persecution” and actions that undermine opposition parties.
“In defence of these principles, we are commencing a
nationwide peaceful protest, #OccupyINEC, starting immediately across all
states and the Federal Capital Territory,” the group said.
The movement added that protesters in Abuja would converge
at the ADC national headquarters before proceeding in a peaceful march to INEC
headquarters, urging Nigerians to “organise, mobilise, and participate in a
coordinated and disciplined manner”.
“This moment goes beyond party lines. It is about the
survival of democratic values and the protection of the Nigerian state itself,”
the statement reads.
“We will remain peaceful, we will remain lawful, but we will
not stand by while our democracy is weakened. Nigeria must not become a
one-party state.”
The Obidient movement has called for the resignation of
Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC), and declared a nationwide protest over the delisting of the David
Mark-led executives of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
BACKGROUND
Following the protracted leadership crisis that has rocked
the ADC, culminating in endless legal disputes between the David Mark faction
and the Nafiu Bala Gombe group, INEC on Wednesday said it would no longer
accept correspondence from either factions.
The commission premised its decision on the March 12
judgment of the court of appeal, which it said, directed parties to maintain
the status quo on the leadership dispute until the matter is decided by the
trial court.
In a statement, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC commissioner for
information and voter education, said the commission would also refrain from
engaging with both groups or monitoring their meetings, congresses, and
conventions pending the determination of the case before the federal high
court.
In furtherance of its resolution, INEC removed the names of
the Mark-led ADC executives from its portal, saying the move was pursuant to
the appellate court order
The decision sparked outrage on social media, with the
Mark-led ADC rejecting INEC’s interpretation of the judgment.
In a statement, Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC national publicity
secretary, alleged that the electoral body acted under pressure from “a
government panicked by the opposition momentum despite its efforts to destroy
all opposition parties and foist a one-party rule on Nigeria”.
OBIDIENT MOVEMENT CALLS FOR PROTEST
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, Yunusa Tanko, national
coordinator of the Obidient Movement, said the group would commence a
nationwide protest tagged #OccupyINEC.
“There are moments in the life of a nation when silence
becomes dangerous and inaction becomes complicity. Nigeria has arrived at such
a moment,” the statement reads.
The group alleged that INEC, “which should stand as an
impartial guardian of the people’s will, is increasingly perceived as
compromised under the present administration,” warning that “when institutions
lose credibility, the will of the people is endangered”.
The movement demanded “the resignation of the INEC Chairman
for gross abuse of office, loss of public trust, and failure to uphold the
neutrality required of that office,” alongside an end to “political
persecution” and actions that undermine opposition parties.
“In defence of these principles, we are commencing a
nationwide peaceful protest, #OccupyINEC, starting immediately across all
states and the Federal Capital Territory,” the group said.
The movement added that protesters in Abuja would converge
at the ADC national headquarters before proceeding in a peaceful march to INEC
headquarters, urging Nigerians to “organise, mobilise, and participate in a
coordinated and disciplined manner”.
“This moment goes beyond party lines. It is about the
survival of democratic values and the protection of the Nigerian state itself,”
the statement reads.
“We will remain peaceful, we will remain lawful, but we will
not stand by while our democracy is weakened. Nigeria must not become a
one-party state.”
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