- Demand Removal of Mark, NWC Members as ADC Leaders
Some protesters on Wednesday gathered at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanding the discontinuation of recognition for the David Mark-led National Working Committee of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
The group of protesters, under the aegis of League of Civil Society Groups, said the former National Vice Chairman of the party Nafiu Bala Gombe was the rightful successor to Raph Obiora after his decision to quit the chairmanship of the party last year.
The protesters who included most young boys and girls were dancing and singing while they held placards to make statements on their demand for the recognition of Gombe as the chairman of the ADC instead of Mr. David Mark.
The protesters wielding placards and banners with different inscriptions said the Commission must do the needful.
Some of the inscriptions as seen in a video shared on X include “If INEC ignores court’s order, who protects our votes?”, “Taxpayers demand accountability. Obey court’s rule”, “INEC defending democracy or protecting David Mark”, “Court of Appeal has spoken: INEC must comply now”, and “Rule of law is not optional even for INEC”.
One of the lead protesters, in his address to newsmen, charged INEC to do the needful, warning against the repetition of the 2019 Zamfara election where the Supreme Court nullified the election of all the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the party’s failure to conduct primary election.
“We as political activists, if we stay behind without correcting the wrongs, history might not forgive us. What we are saying is a very simple something.
“INEC should comply with the order. ADC is a Nigerian politics party. It is the duty of INEC to strengthen opposition parties in Nigeria.
“INEC should not allow innocent Nigerians to go and waste their votes. At the end of it all, we may be having what happened in 2019 in every state in Nigeria. ADC is a formidable party. We are only asking INEC to please do the needful.” He said.
The protest leader questioned reason behind’s INEC’s delay in complying with the Appeal Court’s ruling.
“Enough is enough. You cannot allow innocent Nigerians to be punished by some unscrupulous elements, greedy people who never wants politics to thrive in Nigeria.
“We have APC to contain with. There are PDP and other parties. It is INEC’s duty to regulate political parties. The laws are very clear.
“Nigeria is not a Banana Republic. In a situation whereby an appeal court has given order for more than five days, for more than two weeks, INEC is still folding its arm. What is INEC waiting for?” He asked.