By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, alleging that the electoral body’s leadership has compromised its neutrality.
The party said the demand became necessary because, according to it, the INEC chairman and national commissioners have allegedly taken sides with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and therefore cannot be relied upon to conduct a credible 2027 general election.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Thursday, former Senate President, Senator David Mark, expressed the party’s dissatisfaction following INEC’s decision to derecognise the ADC, stressing that the party has lost confidence in the electoral body.
“We demand the immediate resignation or sack of the INEC Chairman, Professor Amupitan, and all the National Commissioners. We no longer have confidence in them. We are convinced that they are incapable of conducting any credible election.
“Let us also make it clear: we are proceeding with our party programmes, because there is nothing under the law that makes INEC’s attendance, a mandatory requirement. We have duly served INEC notice, and we will proceed accordingly.
“We also call on the international community to take note of INEC’s actions of April 1st, and of the restraint we are exercising today. We urge them to recognise the clear threat to Nigeria’s democracy and stability, and to hold accountable those who are undermining the integrity of the electoral process.
“We call on Nigerians to defend our democracy. This is a defining moment. Stand firm. Speak out. Participate. Resist any attempt to impose a one-party state on Nigeria. Nigeria belongs to all of us, and together, we must protect it.”
The Merit Newspaper reports that the ADC maintained that it would continue with its scheduled party activities in line with existing laws, insisting that it had fulfilled all necessary legal requirements by duly notifying INEC of its programmes.
READ ALSO:The Turning Point: Surulere’s Call for New Era, New Voice
The party also urged the international community to closely monitor recent developments involving the electoral body, warning that such actions could pose a danger to Nigeria’s democratic process if not properly addressed.
