Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi; and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso Wednesday stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to protest the derecognition of the Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Other leaders of the opposition party that took part in the protest included Senator Dino Melaye, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; and former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, among others.
The protest may not be unconnected with the recent decision by the electoral body to stop accepting correspondence from either faction of the ADC led by Mark or Nafiu Bala, after a Court of Appeal judgment on the party’s leadership dispute.
It was based on INEC’s decision that the opposition party accused the electoral body of being in cahoots with the ruling party to foist a one-party system on the country.
The protesters were armed with various placards in support of Mark’s leadership, with ones that read: “In David Mark’s NWC we trust.”
Obi, while speaking, urged Nigerians to defend the country’s democracy.
He said on X: “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.”
