- Safiu Kehinde
Protesters have again stormed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja over the commission’s de-recognition of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership.
The protesters, comprising of ADC supporters, and led by leaders of the party arrived at INEC’s office on Wednesday morning.
Video shared on X by the ADC’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi showed former Kogi lawmaker, Sen. Dino Melaye, leading the charge at the INEC headquarters as he rendered the old national anthem with the protesters singing along.
Notable among the protesters were members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, the support group of former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement joined the protest with their distinct red cap.
Meanwhile, Kwankwaso had earlier arrived at the protest ground alongside the 2023 Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Also joining the protesters are former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
The demonstration was spearheaded by the ADC factional National Chairman, Sen. David Mark, and the National Secretary of the party, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who were both de-recognised by INEC.
NPO Reported that the commission had last week resolved to withdraw its recognition of the opposition party’s leadership in compliance with court’s order.
This had sparked outrage from the ADC leaders and supporters as they accused INEC of being influenced by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a bid to prevent the opposition party from contesting in the 2027 General Elections.
Addressing the protesters, Amaechi affirmed that the APC will be voted out by 2027 as he reiterated his tax deduction allegation against Tinubu.
“Whether they like it or not, they will lose the election. A bag of rice is more expensive that the salary of a poor man in Nigeria. I will repeat what I said before.
“They will start collecting tax. We are waiting for them. For every money you make, the President and his government will be collecting 20 to 30 percent. The last time I said 20 percent, they corrected me and said 30 percent.
“What they are doing is that they are helping to create unemployment.” He said.
The former Minister of Transportation charged the protesters to vote APC out in 2027, stressing that power lies only in their hands.
“Power is in your hand, not in anybody’s hand. If you allow them, they will continue. Don’t forget when we were in APC, we chased PDP out, it is our time to chase away APC.
“2027, they will leave this capital to Lagos. If they do not go, we will vote them out. Imagine a President who came to power, the first thing he did was to change National anthem.
“They said they will give us road, up till now they have not given us road.” He added.
