Members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday hit the streets of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, to protest the removal of the party’s National Chairman, David Mark, and National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, from the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), news.ng reports.
Notable members of the party who joined the protest include Mark, Aregbesola, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Dino Melaye, and Rotimi Amaechi, as well as former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal.
In a video which has gone viral on the microblogging platform X and was monitored by this news platform, the peaceful protesters were carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Tinubu give Peace Chance” and “INEC Chairman, Okoro, You Must Resign.”
It was gathered that the protesters were heading to the headquarters of INEC.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, Tambuwal called for members of the party to resist any attempt to undermine democratic institutions.
He stated: ” Alongside other leaders of the ADC, I am participating in a peaceful protest against the perceived partisanship of the electoral umpire.
“This patriotic action is driven by our collective commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy and ensuring that our electoral process remains credible, fair, and transparent.
“We must resist any attempt to undermine democratic institutions or pave the way for authoritarian tendencies.
“Our stance is not just political; it is a duty to protect the integrity of our nation and preserve the will of the people.”
In the same vein, Atiku Abubakar stated: “Myself and other leaders of the ADC are peacefully protesting against the partisanship of the electoral umpire. Our patriotic stance is aimed at safeguarding our democracy and preventing the enthronement of a dictatorship.”
On his part, Peter Obi, a former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), called for the total rejection of a one-party system.
“We, members and leaders of the ADC, and other well-meaning Nigerians, lovers of democracy, are saying that our democracy must not be killed. We say NO to a one-party system, and for that, today we’re calling out Nigerians who believe in unity, peace, and security of our country to join us as we defend democracy in our land.”
