Abuja, Nigeria – The African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday formally submitted a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanding the immediate restoration of recognition for its David Mark-led National Working Committee, following a high-profile protest that brought major opposition figures to the commission’s headquarters.
The petition was personally delivered by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the national secretary of the ADC, and received by Abdullahi Zuru, a national commissioner of INEC, who stood in for the commission’s leadership. The move came hours after thousands of protesters, led by prominent opposition leaders, marched from Maitama Junction to the INEC headquarters in a powerful demonstration under the banner of “Operation Save Our Democracy.”
Leading the protest were Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and presidential aspirant; Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano State Governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement; Mr. Peter Obi, former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate; and Senator David Mark, the national chairman of the ADC.
Other heavyweight leaders who participated included Senator Aminu Tambuwal, former Sokoto State Governor; Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation; and Senator Dino Melaye, who had earlier mounted a moving van at Unity Fountain to lead protesters in singing the old National Anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots.”
The protesters, many wearing branded “Operation Save Our Democracy” T-shirts, carried placards and banners with hard-hitting inscriptions. Some of the most visible messages read: “Tinubu, let our Democracy breathe”, “Falle daya ce, one term president”, “I stand with ADC, I stand with Democracy”, “INEC: Hands Off Our Party”, and “Amupitan Must Go.” The atmosphere was electric as demonstrators chanted “We no go gree” and waved Nigerian flags while marching through the Federal Capital Territory.
INEC’s recent decision to suspend recognition of the ADC followed a Court of Appeal ruling directing all parties in the suit, including INEC, to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the final resolution of the leadership dispute at the Federal High Court. The crisis erupted after Nafiu Bala challenged the emergence of Senator David Mark as national chairman, following the resignation of the former chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
Party leaders insist that the commission’s action amounts to undue interference in the internal affairs of the ADC and is part of a larger plot to weaken the growing opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In the petition submitted on Wednesday, the ADC demanded that INEC immediately reverses its suspension, respects the party’s constitutional right to self-determination, and refrains from taking any further actions that could prejudice the ongoing court case. Aregbesola, while presenting the document, described INEC’s stance as “a dangerous assault on multiparty democracy” and warned that continued partisanship by the electoral umpire could erode public confidence in the entire democratic process.
Speaking briefly to journalists after the submission, Atiku Abubakar reiterated the coalition’s position: “We are here to defend democracy. We will not allow any institution to be used as a tool to suppress opposition or engineer a one-party state. The Nigerian people deserve free and fair elections in 2027.”
Peter Obi, who has been vocal in his support for the movement, called on all well-meaning Nigerians to join the struggle. “This is beyond political parties. It is about the future of our country. We must reject every attempt to turn Nigeria into a dictatorship,” he said.
Senator David Mark, whose leadership is at the centre of the dispute, expressed confidence that the petition and sustained pressure would yield positive results. “We have followed due process. INEC should not allow itself to be dragged into internal party matters,” Mark noted.
The protest and petition submission represent the most significant show of unity by the opposition in recent times. The presence of heavyweights from different political backgrounds — including former APC chieftains like Aregbesola and Amaechi — underscores the breadth of the coalition now coalescing under the ADC platform.
Political analysts view the development as a direct challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which is itself battling a serious internal leadership crisis. The APC is currently divided between factions loyal to National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and challenger Alhaja Hafsatu Danladi, with the latter threatening court action and possible derecognition by INEC.
“The opposition is capitalising on the APC’s internal weaknesses,” said Prof. Abubakar Jibrin, a political analyst at Bayero University Kano. “If the ADC can sustain this momentum and resolve its own leadership issues, it could emerge as a formidable third force or even the main opposition platform in 2027.”
Security was tight but professional throughout the protest. Officers from the Nigeria Police Force and other agencies monitored the march without major incidents. No arrests were reported, and the demonstration remained largely peaceful, ending with the formal presentation of the petition.
Social media has been buzzing with videos and images from the protest, with hashtags #OperationSaveOurDemocracy, #StandWithADC, and #INECReform trending nationwide. Many Nigerians, particularly youths from the Obidient and Kwankwasiyya movements, have thrown their weight behind the action.
As the petition is studied by INEC, all eyes are now on how the commission will respond. Any perceived delay or negative reaction could trigger further nationwide protests, as coalition leaders have hinted at expanding the action to major cities including Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan.
The ADC has also called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that democratic institutions remain neutral. “The President must allow democracy to breathe,” one placard had boldly declared — a message that now forms the core of the opposition’s narrative.
With the 2027 elections drawing closer, Wednesday’s events have heightened the political temperature in Nigeria. The convergence of Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso, Mark, Amaechi, Tambuwal, Melaye, and Aregbesola in a single protest signals a potentially game-changing realignment in the country’s political landscape.
Whether INEC will heed the petition or stand by its earlier position remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the “Operation Save Our Democracy” movement has moved from street protests to institutional engagement, and the coming weeks will be critical in determining the future of opposition politics in Nigeria.
The ADC has vowed to pursue all legal and constitutional avenues to protect its integrity while continuing peaceful mobilisation. For millions of Nigerians tired of political instability and alleged institutional bias, this protest and petition represent a renewed hope that democracy can still be rescued.
