Leaders and supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday staged a protest in Abuja against what they described as actions by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that threaten internal party autonomy and Nigeria’s democratic system.
The demonstration, tagged #OccupyINEC, took place at Maitama Roundabout and drew several prominent opposition figures, including Rotimi Amaechi, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rauf Aregbesola, Aminu Tambuwal, and Dino Melaye, alongside hundreds of supporters, including members of the Kwankwasiyya movement.
During the protest, participants sang Nigeria’s former national anthem in what the party described as an act of defiance. Some demonstrators also displayed placards expressing support for David Mark’s leadership of the party’s National Working Committee.
Addressing the gathering, Obi spoke on behalf of ADC members and other opposition figures, urging Nigerians to resist any move toward a one-party system and to defend democratic principles.
“We, members and leaders of the ADC and other well-meaning Nigerians, lovers of democracy, are saying that our democracy must not be killed,” he said. “We say no to a one-party system.”
The protest followed INEC’s recent decision to stop recognising correspondence from both factions of the ADC led by Mark and Nafiu Bala after a Court of Appeal judgment on the party’s leadership dispute. The party and allied opposition groups described the decision a
s interference in internal party affairs.
Earlier, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, said the protest was intended to mobilise citizens to defend democratic institutions and express dissatisfaction with the commission’s handling of opposition party issues.
He accused INEC of overstepping its role in the dispute and said the demonstration was organised as a peaceful rally to register public concern over what protesters described as growing pressure on opposition parties.
Organisers said the turnout reflected rising anxiety among opposition supporters about the state of Nigeria’s multi-party system and the need to safeguard political participation.
