Nigerians Blast INEC Over Threat To Reject Mark, Aregbesola As ADC National Chairman, Secretary
Eminent Nigerians, including rights activists, politicians and members of the Civil Society Organizations, have castigated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its stance on the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Many Nigerians, while reacting to the threat by INEC to reject Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC, said INEC’s action was capable of jeopardizing the nation’s hard-earned democracy.
A professor of Philosophy and leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, Prof. Akin Onigbindin on his verified Facebook page, condemned INEC over its threat.
Onigbindin, who berated the national chairman of INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan, warned the commission against acts that may ruin the nation’s democracy.
He said many Nigerians had expected significant differences from the Joash Amupitan-led INEC, but expressed worry that the commission appears not to be different from the one led by Mahmoud Yakubu.
Other Facebook users who condemned the INEC action called on the commission to reverse its action in the interest of democracy, justice and the rule of law.
Also, many had gone on their Facebook handles with ash tag “INEC must go.”
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that it would go ahead with its planned congress and Convention despite the Independent National Electoral Commission’s stand on the leadership of the party.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this while appearing on Arise TV Morning Show programme on Thursday.
Abdullahi said the ADC had already given the INEC 21 days’ notice for its convention, adding that the commission accepted the notice.
“We will go ahead with our congresses. We have given INEC 21 days notice and they have accepted it. Whether they come or not, we will continue with our congresses and convention,” Abdullahi said.
INEC had on Wednesday said it will henceforth cease to accept correspondence from either the David Mark-led ADC faction or that of Rafiu Bala, following a review of the Court of Appeal judgment on March 12 this year.
A statement signed by the Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Kudu, also noted that the commission will no longer engage with either faction, nor monitor any meeting, congress, or conventions of the two groups until the matter at the Federal High Court is decided.
The commission further announced that it would remove the name of David Mark from the INEC portal.
But the ADC rejected INEC’s interpretation of the recent Court of Appeal ruling and accused the commission of siding with the government against Nigerians, alleging that it was shaped by pressure from a government unsettled by the party’s growing momentum.
The party said the development raises deeper concerns about the neutrality of the electoral body and the future of opposition politics in Nigeria.
