ADC Demands INEC Chairman’s Sack Over Bias Claims

By Our Correspondent

National News – The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate removal of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Amupitan Joash, accusing the electoral body of working to weaken opposition parties and impose a one-party system ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

The demand was made on Thursday in Abuja by ADC National Chairman, David Mark, during a press briefing at the Yar’Adua Centre.

He alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was using INEC to interfere in the internal affairs of opposition parties.

Mark’s statement came a day after INEC announced it had delisted several ADC leaders, including Mark and the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola.

According to INEC, the decision followed a court order directing the commission to maintain the status quo while a leadership dispute within the party is being resolved.

The ADC has been embroiled in a leadership crisis since 2025 after a new National Working Committee led by Mark emerged following a National Executive Committee meeting held on July 29, 2025.

The meeting reportedly dissolved the previous leadership and installed a caretaker committee, a decision later communicated to INEC.

However, the dispute intensified when a former deputy national chairman, Nafiu Bala, challenged the new leadership in court despite reportedly resigning months earlier.

The ongoing legal battle prompted the Court of Appeal to order all parties, including INEC, to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending further proceedings.

Mark accused INEC of misinterpreting that directive and acting in a partisan manner.

He argued that the commission’s actions effectively stripped the ADC of legitimate leadership and threatened the party’s ability to participate in upcoming elections in Osun and Ekiti states later in 2026.

He further alleged that the ultimate aim was to weaken opposition parties so that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could emerge as the only viable candidate in the 2027 elections.

Despite the dispute, Mark said the ADC would continue with its scheduled activities, including party congresses starting on April 9 and a national convention on April 14, insisting that the law does not require INEC’s presence for such internal party processes.