Following last week withdrawal of recognition of the leadership of Senator David Mark for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), some prominent national leaders of the opposition political party on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, stormed the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to protest against the decision of the commission which they described as illegal, unjust and unconstitutional.
The protest was led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, national leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and National Secretary of the ADC, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola led the protest against INEC’s decision to derecognise the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Other notable figures at the protest included former Governor of Sokoto State and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, Senator Dino Melaye, and former deputy Governor of Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo.
The protest, which witnessed a large crowd of party faithful, and supporters, was sparked by INEC’s purported misinterpretation of the Court of Appeal’s order that directed all parties to maintain status quo bellum.
INEC accordingly announced a withdrawal of recognition for both the David Mark led ADC and a litigant, Nafiu Bala Gombe who is also claiming the leadership of the party.
Speaking at the venue of the protest, Atiku pointedly condemned INEC’s action which he described as ‘partisan,’ stressing that it was aimed to undermining Nigeria’s democracy and pave the way for a dictatorship.
The ADC has been embroiled in what political observers described as externally induced crisis since July 2025, with the dispute now escalating into legal battles and ultimately leading to INEC’s decision believed to have forced on it from certain unseen hands.
The protest highlights the growing tensions between the opposition and the electoral commission, with the ADC pointedly accusing INEC of laying landmines to prevent it from fielding candidates in the 2027 elections.
