By Latty Ibrahim and Jude Opara
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of manipulating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the names of its National Chairman, Sen. David Mark, and National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, from the Commission’s website.
Addressing a world press conference yesterday, in Abuja, the ADC National Chairman, Sen. David Mark, questioned why President Tinubu and the APC appear “afraid of a free and open election” despite the ruling party controlling 31 states and nearly 90% of the legislature.
The opposition party expressed a total loss of confidence in the leadership of the electoral umpire, calling on the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, and his National Commissioners to resign without delay.
Addressing the nation and the President directly, Mark stated:“Right now, I speak to Nigerians at home and in the diaspora. I also speak directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: with 90% of the National Assembly and over 30 of Nigeria’s 36 Governors in the APC, President Tinubu, what are you afraid of? If you are convinced that you have done well for the people who voted for you, why are you afraid of a free, fair, and transparent electoral contest?.
“ If you are indeed the democrat that you claim to be, why are you bent on destroying all opposition political parties?”
He continued, “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.”
The former Senate President provided a historical account of how the current ADC leadership emerged. He explained that the party had kept INEC informed of all internal transitions, including the voluntary resignation of the former National Working Committee (NWC) led by Chief Ralph Nwosu.
Mark accused INEC of attempting to weaken the ADC to favor the APC, insisting that the party has committed no offense warranting its “delisting” or the removal of its leadership from official records.
He affirmed that the party would proceed with its scheduled programs, including congresses slated for later this month.
“We did not come to the ADC by chance. We did our due diligence. We fulfilled all the party’s constitutional requirements, as well as all wider requirements under the laws that guide the management and operation of political parties,” Mark asserted.
Mark detailed the timeline of the party’s leadership change: “July 29, 2025: A NEC meeting, monitored by INEC, dissolved the NWC and ratified a Caretaker Committee led by David Mark (Chairman) and Rauf Aregbesola (Secretary).
“September 9, 2025: Following formal communication, INEC uploaded the names of the new NWC members to its portal.
“May 17, 2025: Former Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, resigned his position. August 12, 2025: Gombe’s resignation was duly transmitted to INEC.”
Mark criticized INEC for purportedly recognizing Gombe as a factional leader despite his prior resignation.
By purporting to recognize Nafiu Bala as a faction, INEC seems to have conveniently forgotten that this individual had resigned his position, to the knowledge of INEC itself,” he said.
Despite the friction with the commission, the ADC Chairman urged members to remain calm, maintaining that the law does not make INEC’s physical attendance a mandatory requirement for party activities.
“We have our congresses starting on the 9th of April, 2026, ending with our convention on the 14th of April, 2026. We have given due notice to INEC, and they have acknowledged receipt,” he said.
Mark also called on the international community to take note of INEC’s actions on April 1st, describing them as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy and stability.
He urged Nigerians to resist any attempt to impose a one-party state.
The ADC further alleged that the current administration is deliberately undermining democratic freedoms to ensure President Tinubu emerges as the “only option” in 2027.
“Democracy is only sustained by the quality of freedom it guarantees—especially the freedom to choose, participate, and associate.
“Yet, in the past three years, we have witnessed a relentless assault on these very freedoms,” the party stated.
The press briefing saw a significant gathering of political heavyweights, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi, Chief John Oyegun, and the immediate past ADC Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu.
