Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and ex-Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Wednesday led a protest by members and supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, over the party’s lingering leadership crisis.
The demonstrators converged on Maitama, where the electoral body’s head office is located, expressing dissatisfaction with INEC’s decision to delist the names of some party leaders from its official portal.
The protest followed the commission’s recent action removing the names of former Senate President, David Mark, and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as leaders of the party, citing a subsisting court case over the ADC leadership tussle.
Addressing supporters ahead of the protest, Obi described the development as a threat to democratic governance, urging Nigerians to resist what he termed attempts to undermine multiparty democracy.
He said: “We, members and leaders of the ADC and other well-meaning Nigerians, are saying that our democracy must not be killed. We say no to a one-party system.”
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INEC had in a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said the decision to remove the names was in compliance with a directive of the Court of Appeal to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the suit before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The commission explained that it received conflicting communications from factions within the party, necessitating its decision to suspend recognition of any leadership pending judicial resolution.
However, the development has attracted criticism from opposition figures, with some alleging that the action could deepen internal divisions within political parties.
