Bigwigs of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday led a massive crowd on a “Save Nigeria Democracy” protest in Abuja. They are accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine the country’s democracy.
Chieftains of the party, including Peter Obi; ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar; a former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi; ex-governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso; a former Senate President, David Mark; and ex-Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, among others, are present as the protesters march through the streets of Abuja.
Top Society reports that the protest began at the Maitama Roundabout in the city and is heading to the INEC headquarters. Some of the protesters were spotted carrying placards bearing different inscriptions, such as “Hands off our courts”, among others.
Amaechi and Senator Dino Melaye were spotted in a van addressing the protesters as they marched through the streets of the nation’s capital.
In a post on his X handle, Atiku shared snippets of himself on the street with other protesters and other ADC chieftains. “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,” the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wrote.
Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate Obi enjoined supporters, “well-meaning Nigerians, lovers of democracy”, to join in the protest.
“We say NO to a one-party system, and for that today we’re calling out Nigerians who believe in the unity, peace, and security of our country to join us as we defend democracy in our land,” he tweeted.
The opposition party had accused INEC of siding with the APC to block its chances of fielding candidates in 2027. On its part, the electoral umpire denied the allegation, saying it was working in accordance with the constitution.
The crisis rocking the ADC reached its height when INEC removed the names of David Mark, National Chairman, and Rauf Argebesola, National Secretary of the party, from its portal.
INEC based its action on the ruling of the Court of Appeal.
Nafiu Bala, factional chairman of the party, has been locked in a battle with Mark over control of the party. Bala, who was Deputy National Vice Chairman of the ADC, had rejected the ratification of Mark as National Chairman, back in July.
He had said after the previous exco of the party resigned, he was supposed to take over as chairman. He had headed to the court for an injunction to restrain Mark and others under his National Working Committee (NWC) to stop parading themselves as leaders of the party.
He also sought an order to ask INEC to recognise him as acting national chairman.
Bala also sought an order to stop the commission from recognising or dealing with Mark’s group as officials of the party
The motion ex parte was heard on September 4, 2025, after which Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court in Abuja granted his prayers and directed the respondents, including INEC, to show cause why the application should not be granted.
Mark had appealed the order on December 18, 2025, challenging the jurisdiction of the trial court, but the court of appeal dismissed the appeal on March 12, 2026, and issued preservatory orders.
Bala had filed another motion on September 15, 2025, seeking to restrain the ADC from holding any convention, congress, conference, or meeting, and to stop INEC from monitoring or recognising any such activities pending the determination of the suit.
