Over 1,000 supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) braved heavy rain on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, to demonstrate against the removal of the party’s National Chairman, David Mark, and National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.
The protest drew top political figures including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Dino Melaye, Rotimi Amaechi, Aisha Yesufu, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, highlighting the party’s unified stance against what it calls an infringement on democratic rights.
Organised under the banner “Save Democracy,” the demonstrators marched to INEC’s National Headquarters in Abuja carrying red and white placards with inscriptions such as “INEC Chairman Amupitan Must Go” and “Tinubu, Give Peace Chance.”
Many wore branded “Operation Save Our Democracy” T-shirts, while chants and solidarity songs, including the old Nigerian national anthem, echoed through the streets as a symbolic expression of resistance against the commission’s decision.
READ ALSO: Kogi ADC Rejects Congress Suspension Insists Party Activities Will Continue
The protest follows INEC’s discontinuation of recognition for the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC, a move that has sparked political debate and heightened tension among opposition supporters.
Organisers said the rally was intended to defend democratic principles, demand electoral transparency, and hold the commission accountable, warning that excluding the party from the official portal undermines fair participation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The demonstration attracted widespread attention from passersby and security personnel, underscoring the political significance of the ADC’s mobilisation.
Observers noted the prominence of the participants and the scale of the protest, marking it as a defining moment in the ongoing contestation of electoral governance in Nigeria.