Tensions have reached a boiling point at the headquarters of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, as opposition party members, civic groups, and pro-democracy activists take to the streets in a wave of protests demanding accountability from the electoral body with security forces deploying in force to contain the unrest.
More than 2,000 protesters gathered near INEC’s headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, shortly after the commission announced its decision to de-list the National Working Committee (NWC) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from its official portal. Many of the demonstrators were members of the ADC, supporters of the Obidient Movement, and affiliated civil society groups who had organised a demonstration tagged “Occupy INEC.”
Armed soldiers and heavily equipped police took up positions at the INEC headquarters, with the Nigerian Army supported by armoured tanks and police officers carrying assault rifles securing the premises amid the rising tensions. Access roads leading to the commission’s office in Maitama were barricaded using security vehicles, as operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and other agencies maintained a tight perimeter around the building.
At the heart of the controversy is INEC’s decision to remove the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its official portal as National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC, respectively. INEC explained that its action was in compliance with “preservatory orders” issued by the Court of Appeal, directing all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of a substantive case before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Faced with growing confusion and legal complexities arising from competing factions, INEC announced a temporary suspension of recognition for any faction within the ADC, declaring it would refrain from engaging with any group until a final judicial pronouncement is made.
The decision has drawn fierce criticism from ADC loyalists and opposition figures who accuse the commission of overstepping its mandate. ADC National Youth Leader Balarabe Rufa’i accused INEC of undermining democracy and acting outside its constitutional powers, describing Nigeria as being “under democratic siege.” He insisted that INEC lacked the constitutional authority to interpret court rulings, calling its actions “complicity, partisanship, and institutional sabotage.”
Rufa’i’s group demanded the immediate restoration of the David Mark-led leadership on INEC’s official portal, a public apology from the commission, and a commitment to uphold neutrality. “We will not retreat, we will not be intimidated, and we will not be silenced. This is bigger than ADC. This is about Nigeria,” he said.
The Obidient Movement, the sociopolitical group primarily associated with 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, who is now a member of the ADC — formally announced the #OccupyINEC nationwide protest, declaring that “there are moments in the life of a nation when silence becomes dangerous and inaction becomes complicity.”
The movement called for the resignation of the INEC Chairman for what it described as “gross abuse of office, loss of public trust, and failure to uphold the neutrality required of that office.” It also demanded an immediate end to what it characterised as political persecution of opposition voices and a halt to all actions undermining Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
The group warned that INEC’s move could block the ADC from the 2027 general elections, a development it described as a major blow to the opposition, particularly at a time when high-profile defections were swelling the party’s ranks ahead of the presidential poll.
Not everyone is aligned against INEC. The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN), the umbrella body for nearly 1,000 NGOs and humanitarian foundations, passed a vote of confidence in INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, describing calls for his resignation as “unpatriotic and ill-motivated.” The group warned it would sanction and de-affiliate any member organisation found participating in the planned protests.
Separately, the Concerned Nigeria Youth Forum staged a pro-INEC march in Abuja, backing the commission’s stance and defending its compliance with court orders. The group condemned what it described as “attacks from destructive elements” against INEC.
INEC Chairman Prof. Amupitan has warned that if the ADC proceeds with its planned congresses and convention amid the unresolved dispute, it could affect the party’s eligibility to participate in the 2027 general elections.
As the legal battle over the ADC’s leadership heads back to court, the protests signal deepening anxiety among opposition forces over the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral institutions with the 2027 elections now less than a year away.