The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has demanded the immediate resignation or removal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman and national commissioners, accusing the electoral body of undermining democracy and acting in contempt of court ahead of the 2027 general elections.
ADC National Chairman David Mark made the demand on Wednesday at a world press conference, where he alleged a “relentless assault” on democratic freedoms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, warning that the country was drifting towards a one-party state.
The call came hours after INEC announced on April 1, 2026, that it was withdrawing recognition of both the Mark-led ADC leadership and a rival faction headed by former party official Nafiu Bala.
Mark condemned the decision as unlawful and partisan, saying it effectively left the party without any recognised leadership in violation of a subsisting court order.
“INEC is taking sides,” Mark said, accusing the commission of misinterpreting a Court of Appeal directive that had ordered all parties, including INEC, to maintain the status quo pending the determination of an ongoing leadership dispute.
Mark dismissed Bala’s legal claim, noting that Bala had resigned from the party several months before initiating proceedings in court.
The ADC chairman said the party’s current leadership emerged from a National Executive Committee meeting held on July 29, 2025, which was monitored by INEC and followed due process.
The meeting dissolved the party’s National Working Committee and installed a caretaker structure with Mark as chairman and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary. He said INEC had formally acknowledged the new leadership after receiving relevant documentation.
Mark framed the ADC’s restructuring as part of a broader opposition effort to “rescue Nigeria’s democracy,” saying a coalition of opposition leaders had adopted the party as a platform to resist what he described as an emerging dictatorship.
He linked the country’s deepening poverty and insecurity to what he termed a failure of governance, and alleged that the ruling party was systematically weakening opposition to ensure President Tinubu faced no credible challenge in 2027.
The party warned that INEC’s actions could jeopardise its participation in forthcoming governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti states, as well as internal congresses and a national convention scheduled for April.
Appealing to Nigerians and the international community, Mark urged citizens to defend democratic values and resist any attempt to entrench a one-party system.
He called on foreign governments and electoral observers to monitor developments closely and hold accountable those he accused of subverting Nigeria’s electoral process.
Despite the controversy, Mark vowed the ADC would proceed with all planned activities, insisting the party had complied with every legal requirement.
“The arc of history bends towards freedom,” he said in closing, declaring that no attempt to silence opposition in Nigeria would ultimately succeed.
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