.Decision may block party from 2027 elections — Spokesman
.As Peter Obi’s media office alleges plot by FG to scuttle ex-governor’s presidential ambition
COSMAS CHUKWU, Enugu and Media Agency
The Youth Wing of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has issued a three-day ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, demanding the restoration of the party’s leadership as recognized in 2025 or face nationwide civic action.
Addressing journalists on Monday at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, the ADC National Youth Leader, Balarabe Rufa’i, accused INEC of undermining democracy and acting outside its constitutional powers.
Rufa’i described Nigeria as being “under democratic siege,” alleging that institutions meant to safeguard the will of the people were being compromised and weaponized against democratic principles.
He traced the crisis to a National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting held on July 29, 2025, where the party dissolved its National Working Committee and produced a new leadership led by David Mark. According to him, INEC had initially verified and officially recognized the outcome in September 2025 without any dispute.
“Months later, individuals who had already resigned resurfaced to challenge a process they had no legal standing in,” Rufa’i said, adding that despite a Court of Appeal directive to maintain the last uncontested position, INEC allegedly ignored the order and acted on pending motions and non-binding communications.
He insisted that INEC lacked the constitutional authority to interpret court rulings, describing its actions as “complicity, partisanship, and institutional sabotage”.
The ADC youth leader called on the National Assembly to urgently investigate the matter and consider appropriate sanctions, including the possible removal of the INEC Chairman. He also urged the judiciary to clarify its orders to prevent what he described as manipulation and to reaffirm its authority as the sole interpreter of the law.
Rufa’i further appealed to the military to remain neutral, emphasizing that the issue was strictly a civil and constitutional matter.
Reaffirming the party’s stance, he declared that the leadership produced at the July 2025 NEC meeting remained the only legitimate authority within the ADC, warning that any attempt to alter it without a final court judgment would be “illegal, null, and void”.
The group outlined its demands, including the immediate restoration of the David Mark-led leadership on INEC’s official portal, a public apology from the commission, and a commitment to uphold neutrality and the rule of law.
Rufa’i also called on the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to refrain from actions that could weaken opposition parties, warning that such moves would threaten Nigeria’s democracy.
He warned that failure to comply within 72 hours would trigger nationwide, peaceful protests, including the occupation of INEC offices across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“We will not retreat, we will not be intimidated, and we will not be silenced. This is bigger than ADC. This is about Nigeria,” he said.
This comes days after INEC derecognized ADC leadership over a pending court dispute.
INEC chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, had explained that if ADC goes ahead with its planned congresses and convention, it may affect the opposition party in the 2027 general elections.
.As Peter Obi’s media office alleges plot by FG to scuttle ex-governor’s presidential ambition
The Peter Obi Media Office has warned that the clandestine plot to block Peter Obi’s candidacy in the 2027 general election is a huge threat to democracy.
A statement signed by Ibrahim Umar, POMR’s spokesperson dated April 3, 2026, made available to journalists on Monday, the group called on all stakeholders to uphold the values of democracy, stating that Obi has the opportunity to present his vision for Nigeria.
The statement partly read: “The Media Office of Peter Obi, the presidential front-runner for the 2027 election and the Labour Party’s candidate in the 2023 election, strongly alerts the nation and the international community to a sinister scheme orchestrated by President Bola Ahmad Tinubu and his ruling party aimed at denying Obi a platform for the upcoming January 2027 poll.
“This underhanded plan has been in motion since the conclusion of the 2023 election, deliberately injecting crises into Obi’s Labour Party to prevent him from securing a foothold for the election. Despite Obi’s relentless efforts to restore peace within the party, government infiltrators, aided by a compromised judiciary, have consistently thwarted these attempts.
“In April 2025, the Supreme Court of our land delivered a ruling regarding the rightful control of the party. Yet, the ruling party has cavalierly disregarded this decision, using lower courts to undermine the authority of the Supreme Court effectively.
“When credible intelligence indicated that internal turmoil would persist until Obi was ousted, he made the difficult decision to exit the party to safeguard its future. As predicted by this scheme, when Obi left on December 31, 2025, the courts that had previously ignored the Supreme Court’s ruling suddenly took action on January 7, 2026, dismissing the meddlesome intrusions of Julius Abure and his faction.
“After fully aligning with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Coalition and bringing renewed vigour to the party, the ruling party escalated its efforts to sabotage him. They pursued bizarre legislative changes that culminated in a detrimental amendment to the Electoral Act, explicitly designed to exert pressure on the ADC and undermine Obi’s presidential ambitions.
“Obi’s visit on March 22, 2026, to the former Governor of Kano State and the 2023 presidential candidate of the NNPP, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, where he was warmly welcomed by Kwankwasiyya members, intensified the ruling party’s hostility toward him.
“The tipping point occurred during the ADC’s resounding rally in Kano on March 30, 2027, where Kwankwaso officially joined forces with the ADC. In a desperate move, the government manipulated the so-called Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reinterpret an Appeal Court ruling, leading to the delisting of the ADC’s leadership and putting Obi and other aspirants at serious risk of being denied a platform.
“The Peter Obi Media Office meticulously documents these alarming developments to inform Nigerians and the international community of this orchestrated manoeuvre to disenfranchise Obi and pave the way for President Tinubu’s uncontested candidacy. They are attempting to create an illusion of democratic choice by propping up surrogates in various political parties while scheming for a one-party system in a nation of over 200 million people with rich diversity.
“For this dictatorial agenda to succeed, it would profoundly disservice to millions of Nigerians—particularly the youth, women, and intellectuals—who desire a transformative vision for Nigeria based on production rather than consumption, curbing waste, and eradicating deep-seated corruption within the system.
“The Media Office of Peter Obi categorically condemns this disturbing trend as a blatant scheme to undermine democracy, establish dictatorship, and continue exploiting the nation’s resources through corrupt practices.
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“We emphasise the importance of transparency and integrity in our democratic system. We are dedicated to informing both Nigerians and the global community about these developments, urging a collaborative approach to strengthen our democracy.”
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