From David Onuoja, Abuja
In a Campaign for SAVE Democracy in Nigeria, the leaders of Action Democratic Congress (ADC), likes of Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwoso and David Mark among other Stakeholders, have stormed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office, Abuja; in protest against the Commission’s recent decision to disbanded David Mark’s ADC led National Working Committee (NWC), from INEC portal.
The said Leaders who joined other Stakeholders, staged a large demonstration in Abuja on Wednesday, protesting the decisions by the INEC whom they said, undermined democracy and the party’s internal leadership.
The protest, which was tagged #OccupyINEC office, brought the Former Presidential Candidates and Prominent Politicians, including, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Rauf Aregbesola, Aminu Tambuwal, Rotimi Amaechi and Dino Melaye, among other dignitaries and hundreds of Kwankwasiyya Members.
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The demonstration saw participants singing Nigeria’s former national anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots!”, despite the fact that it was replaced on May 29, 2024, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with the country’s 1960 independence anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
Also, during the protest, several demonstrators also held placards supporting Senator David Mark, including ones that read, “In David Mark’s NWC we trust.”
Addressing the protest, Former presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, who spoke on behalf of ADC members and other opposition leaders, urged Nigerians to defend the country’s democracy.
Obi who equally post on his X handle said: “We, members and leaders of the ADC, and other well-meaning Nigerians, lovers of democracy, are saying that our democracy must not be killed.
“We say NO to a one-party system, and for that, today we’re calling out Nigerians who believe in unity, peace, and security of our country to join us as we defend democracy in our land.”
The protest follows INEC’s recent decision to removed David Mark as the interim Chairman of ADC, which it said no longer accepted correspondence from either faction of the ADC led by Senator David Mark or Nafiu Bala, after a Court of Appeal judgment on the party’s leadership dispute.
ADC and other opposition groups described the move as a restriction on party autonomy and an interference with internal party affairs.
National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, had earlier told newsmen the demonstration aimed to mobilise Nigerians in defence of democracy.
“This commission is now becoming the arbiter, judge, accuser and defender at the same time. Our major issue is the manner in which INEC has been going about creating disaffection in the opposition.
“The people are really angry and plan to show this anger by coming out. So, we will expect them to come out en masse for a peaceful rally. Then we will just demonstrate and protest,” he said.
All the efforts through text messages, Whatsapp chats and calls to hear or get the response from INEC proved abortive as at the time for filing this report.
