Members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) staged a peaceful protest on Tuesday at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, demanding official recognition of the party’s national leadership led by David Mark.
The demonstration comes amid rising political tension within the party, fueled by internal disputes and defections as preparations intensify ahead of party primaries and the next general elections.
According to reports, the protesters marched to the INEC office without incident and submitted a formal petition outlining their demands.
Addressing journalists after the protest, the Jigawa ADC Youth Leader, Manniru Aminu, accused the electoral body of exceeding its authority by intervening in matters he described as strictly judicial.
“INEC does not have the constitutional power to interpret court rulings. That responsibility lies with the judiciary,” he said.
The group further alleged that the commission was not acting in a neutral manner in handling internal party issues, warning that such actions could undermine democratic fairness.
They maintained that the leadership of the ADC under David Mark remains the only legitimate and constitutionally recognised structure of the party.
As part of their demands, the protesters called on INEC to immediately update its official records and website to reflect the Mark-led leadership.
They also urged the commission to issue a public apology and hold accountable any officials responsible for what they described as bias.
