Opposition heavyweights Atiku, Obi storm INEC over ADC leadership crisis

Nigeria’s fragile opposition politics deepened on Wednesday as some of the country’s most prominent political figures converged on Abuja to protest what they described as the growing “partisanship” of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar led the demonstration—tagged “Occupy INEC”—alongside Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark, ex-transport minister Rotimi Amaechi, and former governors Rauf Aregbesola and Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The protest marks a rare public show of unity among opposition figures, even as internal fractures threaten to undermine their coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

The protest follows INEC’s decision to deny recognition to the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing a Court of Appeal ruling triggered by a legal challenge from Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former deputy national chairman of the party.

Atiku, speaking during the protest, framed the dispute as a broader democratic crisis.

“We are peacefully protesting against the partisanship of the electoral umpire,” he said. “This is about safeguarding our democracy and preventing the slide into authoritarianism.”

Protesters, many of them party supporters, chanted “Ojoro” – a colloquial expression for injustice – while holding placards reading “Let democracy breathe” and “Tinubu, why are you afraid?”

The messaging reflects rising tensions between opposition actors and the administration of President Bola Tinubu, particularly over the perceived neutrality of key democratic institutions. The opposition accuses the Tinubu government of masterminding the crisis in the ADC, an allegation it denies.

“We, members and leaders of the ADC, and other well-meaning Nigerians, lovers of democracy, are saying that our democracy must not be killed,” Obi said.

“We say NO to a one-party system and for that today we’re calling out Nigerians who believe in unity, peace, and security of our country to join us as we defend democracy in our land.”

A Party in Crisis

At the heart of the confrontation is a deepening leadership crisis within the ADC, a party that has recently emerged as a potential vehicle for a broad opposition coalition.

The dispute dates back to mid-2025, when a wave of resignations within the party leadership paved the way for David Mark to assume the role of interim national chairman, alongside a new executive team. However, Nafiu Bala Gombe, a member of the party, challenged the process in court, arguing that it violated the party’s constitution.

INEC’s subsequent decision to remove the Mark-led leadership from its official records has intensified the crisis, effectively splitting the party into multiple factions.

Gombe insists he remains the legitimate national chairman and has accused the Mark faction of attempting to “take over” the party using influence and resources. “They think they can suppress us because they have power and money,” he said in a recent interview, defending his legal challenge.

But senior figures within the coalition have pushed back. Kwankwaso described Gombe’s actions as harmful to both the party and Nigeria’s democracy, revealing that attempts at reconciliation had failed. “What is happening is not good for his future, the ADC, or the country,” he said.

Fragmentation Deepens

The crisis has further escalated with the emergence of a third faction aligned with Dumebi Kachikwu, the ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate. This group has rejected both the Mark and Gombe camps, endorsing INEC’s position and appointing its own interim leadership.

The multiplication of factions underscores the volatility of opposition politics in Nigeria, where personal ambition, legal battles, and institutional interventions often intersect to weaken collective action.

Despite this, Atiku downplayed concerns about the coalition’s viability. He expressed confidence that the dispute would be resolved through the courts and insisted that the broader alliance, in development for over a year, remains intact.

“We have not even begun our ward congresses,” he said. “The courts will clarify the situation, and we will move forward.”

The unfolding crisis raises critical questions about the opposition’s ability to mount a credible challenge in the next general election.