ADC Leaders to Amupitan: Resign Immediately

Rising in unison, leaders of African Democratic Congress (ADC), yesterday, demanded the sack of Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, alleging that he is planning a scheme to foist a one-party state on Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general election.

The opposition party leaders expressed their position in a speech read on their behalf by National Chairman of ADC, David Mark, at Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

However, in a quick push-back, INEC dismissed the call for Amupitan’s removal as a distraction and a direct assault on the independence of the national electoral umpire.

Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Adedayo Oketola, in a statement, said Amupitan did not hold office at the pleasure of any political party or interest group.

The ADC leaders condemned what they described as a calculated plot to impose a one-party state on Nigeria ahead of 2027.

Their angst stemmed from a decision by INEC on Wednesday to delist key ADC figures, including Mark, National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, and others from the commission’s website.

INEC, through its National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, stated that the decision was in compliance with an appeal court order directing the commission to maintain the status quo pending the determination of a suit by the trial court.

But the ADC leaders accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using INEC to weaken the opposition parties.

Flanked by former Vice President Atiku Abuba-kar; 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi; former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso; former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola; former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi; and other party chieftains, Mark demanded the sack of the chairman of INEC for planning a one-party state in Nigeria.

In the speech read by Mark at Yar’Adua Centre, the ADC leaders demanded the immediate sack of Amupitan over alleged bias and unlawful actions, saying he is incapable of delivering credible and transparent elections in 2027.

ADC had faced recurring leadership crisis since 2025, following the emergence of a new National Working Committee (NWC) led by Mark in July 2025.

The crisis stemmed from disagreements over the tenure of a former national chairman of the party, Ralph Nwosu, whose term officially ended in August 2022.

However, Nwosu was involved in facilitating the 2025 leadership transition, a move that triggered opposition from groups within the party.

The dispute escalated as rival groups laid claim to the party’s leadership, resulting in multiple court cases. This created uncertainty within ADC, raising concerns that the internal conflict could weaken its preparedness for the 2027 general election.

Mark and the other APC chieftains said over the past three years, there had been a sustained attack on the freedom of association, a core principle guaranteed in any democracy.

The ADC chairman alleged that the aim was to engineer a situation where, by 2027, President Bola Tinubu, would be the sole viable choice for Nigerians, despite the prevailing hardship and escalating insecurity across the country.

He stated, “The agenda is very clear: to create a situation where, in 2027, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerges as the only option left for the people, despite the widespread suffering and wanton killings going on across the country.

“The twin challenge of deepening poverty and a worsening security situation in the country did not just happen. They are direct consequences of the failure of this government.

“They know that Nigerians will not want this to continue. They know Nigerians will vote them out. This is why they would do anything to hang on to power by hook or crook.”

Mark stated that their decision to join ADC was deliberate, stating that they carried out thorough due diligence

He stated , “In furtherance of this process, a NEC meeting was convened on July 29th, 2025, monitored by INEC officials. One of the conclusions of that NEC meeting was the dissolution of the National Working Committee of the party and the ratification of a caretaker committee to take over the affairs of the party, with my humble self, David Mark, as the National Chairman; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the National Secretary; as well as others who have since been serving as officers of the party.”

The ADC national chairman explained further, “In addition to witnessing this process that brought in the new leadership of the party, a formal report of these resolutions was subsequently communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). On September 9th, 2025, INEC then uploaded the names of the relevant NWC members of the party, based on the NEC resolutions.

“One of the officials in the dissolved NWC was Nafiu Bala, who was one of the Deputy National Chairmen of the party. It is on record that Gombe resigned from this position on 17th May, 2025.

“His resignation was also duly transmitted to INEC on the 12th of August, 2025. Regardless of his resignation, he decided to approach the courts on September 2nd, 2025, four clear months after his resignation, seeking to be recognised as the Chairman of the ADC.”

Mark said by September 2, when Bala went to court, INEC was already aware of the July 29 inauguration of the party’s leadership and Gombe’s prior resignation.

He added that while the case was ongoing, their lawyers challenged the Federal High Court’s jurisdiction, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and directed all parties, including INEC, to maintain the status quo ante bellum.

Mark continued, “The crux of the matter is the interpretation of what constitutes status quo ante bellum, which the Court of Appeal directed should be maintained. From all authoritative counsel at our disposal, there is no legal interpretation or precedent that could possibly lead to the outcome that INEC seeks to foist on our party.

“Based on its press statement of yesterday, INEC is pretending to be confused as to what constitutes the status quo ante bellum. If this were so, under the circumstances, what one would have expected was for INEC to approach the Court of Appeal to request a judicial interpretation of what truly represents the status quo under the circumstances