The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a 72-hour ultimatum to restore the Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) on its portal or be ready to face the consequences.
The National Youth leader of the ADC, Balarabe Rufa’i, who stated the position of the opposition party at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, warned that if the Professor Joash Amupitan-led INEC fails to comply with its demand, youths and concerned Nigerians would be left with no choice than to occupy INEC offices nationwide.
Speaking in turn at the press conference, the leader of the coalition of CSOs, Ibrahim Garba Wala, said some forces were allegedly using the INEC against the opposition in the country.
He declared; “The attempt to make Nigeria a one party will not stand. It will be rejected by the people, and it’s earlier these anti-democratic forces know this”.
INEC in a surprise move last week, withdrew its recognition of the Mark-led NWC and delisted the ADC leadership from its portal, citing a Court of Appeal order, directing parties in a suit over the leadership of the opposition party to maintain status quo ante bellum.
Rufa’i reiterated the demand of the ADC for the immediate resignation of the INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, in addition to a public apology by the electoral commission to Nigerians for its unconstitutional and partisan conduct.
He also demanded that INEC to respect and uphold the rule of law by refraining from interpreting court directives and ensure full neutrality and independence in all of its operations going forward.
In the words of Rufa’i; “If INEC fails to comply within 72 hours, we will initiate nationwide, peaceful and lawful civic action across all 36 states and the FCT.
“ADC youths and concerned Nigerians including civil society organisations will lawfully occupy INEC offices nationwide, sustain civic resistance until full restoration of democratic order,” he vowed.
Rufa’i noted that INEC’s action was partisan, thus urged the judiciary to clarify its orders to prevent manipulation since it is the authority that is the sole interpreter of the law, in order to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s legal system.
The ADC National Youth Leader stressed that the Senator Mark-led NWC took over the affairs of the Party after the July 29, 2025 National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which successfully dissolved the former NWC of the ADC.
In the words of Rufa’i; “INEC received the outcome, verified the process, officially uploaded and recognized this leadership on September 9, 2025. There was: No dispute. No objection. No ambiguity.
“So, what changed? Power, Pressure and Political interference. Months later, individuals who had already resigned resurfaced to challenge a process they had no legal standing in”.
He also said that while the matter remains before the courts, the Court of Appeal ordered the parties in the case to maintain ‘status quo ante bellum’, the last uncontested position, emphasising that the position is clear, “The leadership under Senator David Mark”.
According to Rufa’i; “Yet INEC chose to ignore established facts, disregard due process and unlawfully interpreted a court order. Let it be stated unequivocally: INEC has no constitutional authority to interpret court orders.
“That duty belongs strictly to the courts. What INEC has done is not neutrality. It is complicity, partisanship and institutional sabotage,” he insisted.
