Opposition leaders rally at INEC headquarters, condemning ADC derecognition and alleging bias threatening Nigeria’s democratic process and institutions.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, alongside David Mark, national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation, on Tuesday led a protest tagged ‘Occupy INEC’ in Abuja.
Other prominent figures at the protest included Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election; Rauf Aregbesola, former governor of Osun State; Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State; and Dino Melaye, former senator.
The demonstration, organised by leaders of the African Democratic Congress, was staged to protest what they described as the “partisanship” of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Atiku, who announced the protest in a post on X, said, “Myself and other leaders of the ADC are peacefully protesting against the partisanship of the electoral umpire.”
“Our patriotic stance is aimed at safeguarding our democracy and preventing the enthronement of a dictatorship,” he added.
At the protest ground, demonstrators repeatedly chanted “Ojoro” while holding placards bearing messages such as ‘Tinubu, why are you afraid?’, ‘Judges must give justice’, and ‘Let democracy breathe’.
The protest follows the de-recognition of the ADC by INEC, a decision that stems from a ruling by the court of appeal.
