ADC demands resignation of INEC chairman, accuses commission of engineering a one-party state

On April 2nd 2026, high-ranking members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) held a press conference at the Yaradua Centre in Lagos to address the recent decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

At the press conference, the party demanded the immediate resignation of the INEC chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, whom they accused of leading a commission that's collaborating with the ruling All Progressives Congress to engineer a one-party state.

"There's an agenda to make President Tinubu the only option for Nigerians, despite the challenges of deepening poverty and worsening insecurity, which didn't just happen. These are direct consequences of the failure of the Tinubu government. They know Nigerians would vote them out; that's why they would do anything to hang on to power by hook or crook," ADC chairman, former Senate President David Mark, said at the press conference.

"The coalition leaders came together under ADC to rescue Nigeria from an emerging dictatorship. We didn't come to the party by chance; we did our due diligence and fulfilled all the party's constitutional requirements and the laws of Nigeria. Nafiu Gombe and his lawyers have become willing tools in the hands of APC," he added.

David Mark added that INEC was fully aware that Honourable Nafiu Bello Gombe had resigned his position as the Deputy Chairman of the ADC, and thus, was incapable of instituting a legal action demanding to be recognised as the acting chairman following the resignation of the former chairman, Ralph Nwosu.

Readers will recall that Pulse Nigeria reported INEC's decision not to recognise David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as the National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC following a decision by the Court of Appeal asking David Mark and Nafiu Gombe to maintain the status quo pending their determination of the suit pending in the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The David Mark-led executive of the ADC has announced April 12 for its national congress, which the party's National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, insisted the party would proceed with despite INEC's decision.

Present at the press conference were former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi, former governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Kano state, and Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso, among other notable members of the party, which is now the leading opposition in the run-up to the 2027 general elections.

ADC isn't the only vocal critic of INEC's recent decision to cease the recognition of the David Mark-led ADC executive team. Constitutional Lawyer Festus Ogun has described it as a legal wrong, while renowned Human Rights Lawyer Professor Chidi Odinkalu knocked INEC for over-interpreting the Court of Appeal's decision, which he argues is not in tandem with the decision of the court.