By Our Reporter
Youth Wing of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has kicked against derecognition of the party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following which it gave a three-day ultimatum to the Commission, demanding the restoration of the party’s leadership as recognised in 2025 or face nationwide protest.
It would be recalled that following derecognition of ADC leadership by INEC over a pending court dispute, the Commission boss, Prof. 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.
ADC National Youth Leader, Balarabe Rufa’i, issued this ultimatum on Monday while addressing newsmen at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, accusing INEC of undermining democracy and acting outside its constitutional powers.
Rufa’i, while describing Nigeria as being "under democratic siege," alleged that institutions meant to safeguard the will of the people were being compromised and weaponised against democratic principles.
The ADC youth leader traced the crisis rocking the opposition party to a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on July 29, 2025, where the party dissolved its National Working Committee (NWC) and produced a new leadership led by David Mark, saying that the electoral Umpire had initially verified and officially recognised 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."
Rufa’i urged the National Assembly to urgently investigate the matter and consider appropriate sanctions, including the possible removal of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Amupitan.
He equally 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.
The ADC youth leader further appealed to the military to remain neutral, emphasising that the issue was strictly a civil and constitutional matter.
Rufa’i, while reaffirming the party’s stance, 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."
He outlined the group's 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 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to refrain from actions that could weaken opposition parties, warning that such moves would threaten Nigeria’s democracy.
This was just as 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 (FCT).
"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.
Post a Comment