ABUJA, Nigeria – The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate resignation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, alongside all National Commissioners, accusing the electoral body of bias ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Senator David Mark reacted to the recent derecognition of the ADC, stating that the party has completely lost faith in the electoral commission. He explained that the call for the chairman to step down became imperative because “the Commission chairman and commissioners have taken side with the ruling All Progressives Congress APC and cannot be trusted to conduct the 2027 general elections.”
“We demand the immediate resignation or sack of the INEC Chairman, Professor Amupitan, and all the National Commissioners. We no longer have confidence in them. We are convinced that they are incapable of conducting any credible election,” Mark declared during the briefing.
Despite the ongoing friction and the party’s derecognition status, Senator Mark insisted that the ADC will not halt its internal activities. “Let us also make it clear: we are proceeding with our party programmes, because there is nothing under the law that makes INEC’s attendance, a mandatory requirement. We have duly served INEC notice, and we will proceed accordingly,” he stated.
The party further appealed to global observers and the Nigerian public to intervene in the escalating political situation. “We also call on the international community to take note of INEC’s actions of April 1st, and of the restraint we are exercising today. We urge them to recognise the clear threat to Nigeria’s democracy and stability, and to hold accountable those who are undermining the integrity of the electoral process,” Mark urged.
Concluding his address, he issued a direct plea to citizens: “We call on Nigerians to defend our democracy. This is a defining moment. Stand firm. Speak out. Participate. Resist any attempt to impose a one-party state on Nigeria. Nigeria belongs to all of us, and together, we must protect it.”
