ADC’s David Mark calls out INEC, demands Chairman Amupitan be sacked

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, on Thursday addressed the press at the Musa Yar’adua Centre, condemning the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to derecognise the leadership of his party.

In a speech titled “THIS ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY WILL NOT STAND”, Mark called for the resignation of INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, asserting that the electoral body had acted unlawfully and in partisanship.

Mark argued that the recent derecognition of his leadership and that of National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola was a deliberate attempt to subvert Nigeria’s democracy.

He described INEC’s April 1st action as “a direct assault on the rights of Nigerians to choose, participate, and exercise their freedoms as citizens.”

According to Mark, the leadership inaugurated at the ADC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on July 29, 2025, was lawful, monitored by INEC, and communicated formally to the commission.

The controversy arose after a former Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala, who had resigned on May 17, 2025, attempted to challenge the legitimacy of the current leadership in court months later.

Mark emphasised that INEC, by derecognising both the Bala faction and the Mark-Aregbesola leadership, had created a “false equivalence” between the factions, undermining the court’s March 12, 2026, order maintaining the status quo.

Mark accused INEC of acting in concert with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken the ADC, which he described as “the last viable opposition party” in Nigeria.

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He warned that the action threatened Nigeria’s democratic framework ahead of the 2027 elections and ongoing state-level contests.

“The electoral umpire has taken sides. It can no longer be trusted,” he said, adding that the decision could impact the ADC’s participation in the upcoming Osun and Ekiti elections and the party’s congresses scheduled for April 9–14, 2026.

Mark demanded the immediate resignation or removal of INEC Chairman Amupitan and all national commissioners, stating that the commission had “lost credibility and can no longer conduct credible elections.”

He reassured party members and Nigerians that the ADC would continue with its planned programmes and urged the international community to take note of INEC’s actions, describing them as a “clear threat to Nigeria’s democracy and stability.”

Mark appealed to Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to defend democratic freedoms and resist attempts to impose a one-party state.

“The arc of history bends toward freedom, not tyranny. Nigeria will not be silenced. Nigeria will not be conquered. Nigeria is rising, ADC is rising,” he concluded.

The press conference highlighted the deepening tensions between INEC and opposition parties, raising questions about the commission’s neutrality and the conduct of future elections in Nigeria.