Top opposition figures including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi on Wednesday joined an African Democratic Congress, ADC, protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Abuja.
The protest began from Maitama Roundabout and moved to the INEC headquarters in the Federal Capital Territory. Other prominent figures reported at the march included Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rauf Aregbesola, Aminu Tambuwal and Dino Melaye.
The demonstration followed INEC’s decision to stop recognising the David Mark-led faction and the Nafiu Bala faction of the party pending the resolution of the leadership dispute in court. The commission also said it would no longer engage with either faction or monitor their meetings, congresses or conventions until the matter before the Federal High Court is decided.
The dispute stems from the emergence of a new ADC leadership after the resignation of the Ralph Nwosu-led National Working Committee in July 2025. Nafiu Bala Gombe, the party’s former vice-national chairman, challenged the transition and argued that he should have assumed leadership after the resignation of the previous chairman.
At the protest ground, demonstrators carried banners and placards accusing the electoral body of bias and calling for the protection of democracy. Organisers described the action as a peaceful protest against what they called partisanship by the commission.
Speaking during the protest, David Mark said the interpretation of court judgments rests with the judiciary and not with the INEC chairman. In a protest letter submitted to the commission and signed by Mark and Aregbesola, the ADC demanded the resignation of the INEC chairman, the withdrawal of what it described as offensive correspondence to the party, and a formal apology.
The protest adds to the growing internal crisis within the ADC at a time when opposition politicians are repositioning ahead of the 2027 general election.
