- Safiu Kehinde
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has demanded the resignation of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Chairman, Prof, Joash Amupitan, over the commission’s decision against the leadership of the party.
This is coming under the heels of INEC’s derecognition of Sen. David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
NPO Reported that the commission had on Wednesday resolved to withdraw it recognition of the ADC leadership in compliance with the Appeal Court ruling.
In the wake of the development, the ADC leadership would on Thursday converge at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja for a World Press Conference where they demanded the resignation of Amupitan’s resignation.
Speaking on behalf of the ADC NWC, the party’s National Chairman, Sen. David Mark, accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of influencing INEC in a bid to retain its hold on power.
Mark further accused INEC of compromise as he called for Amupitan’s resignation, stressing that the ADC no longer have trust in him.
“This INEC under Professor Joash Amupitan will be held directly responsible for whatever actions or reactions that follow this criminal path that it has chosen to take.
“Our demand is therefore clear: 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.” He said.
Meanwhile, Mark declared that the ADC would continue with its activities regardless of INEC’s derecognition oh his leadership.
He disclosed that the party had already informed the commission about its congresses coming up on the 9th of April and its convention which is slated to hold on the 14th of April.
“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 said.
Prior to that, Mark recalled how the coalition of opposition parties had adopted the ADC with all necessary requirements fulfilled.
“The coalition of opposition parties came about as a result of the collective search for democratic freedom and desire to resist what was clearly a relentless assault on the opposition political parties.
“The coalition leaders decided to come together under ADC to save multiparty democracy in Nigeria and rescue Nigeria from what was clearly an emerging dictatorship.
“We did not come to the ADC by chance. We did our due diligence. We fulfilled all the party’s constitutional requirements as well as all legal requirements under the laws that guides the management and operations of political parties.” He said.
The ADC National Chairman further recalled the party had dissolved its former NWC at a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which had INEC in attendance.
“In furtherance of this process, a NEC meeting was convened on July 29, 2025, monitored by INEC officials.
“One of the conclusions of that NEC meeting was the dissolution of the National Working Committee of the party and ratification of a caretaker committee to take over the affairs of the party with my humble self, David Mark, as the National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the National Secretary as well as others who are serving as officials’.” He said.
More details later…