ADC Submits Formal Petition To INEC, Demands Removal Of Chairman Amupitan Over Partisan Conduct And Constitutional Breaches

Fire spread fast through Nigeria’s opposition ranks when the African Democratic Congress handed a sharp complaint to election chiefs. Out goes a demand for Professor Joash Amupitan to step down right away - words chosen with clear anger. David Mark, once Senate leader and now head of the ADC, charges that the nation’s vote referee acted on bias, broke rules, went beyond authority. What happens next could shake how parties compete before 2027 arrives. Election officials brushed it off instantly. Ruling party figures labeled the move irresponsible noise. Yet street actions loom unless something shifts inside INEC halls. Tension climbs as votes draw near, one clash at a time.

Around 11:29 in the morning, a petition turned up at INEC’s main office in Abuja. Dated April 8, 2026, it arrived via Rauf Aregbesola, serving as the party's National Secretary. From its opening line, the paper does not hold back. Harsh tones mark every accusation aimed squarely at the election body's head. Copies seen by SaharaReporters show clear intent - no soft edges here.

"We write to convey our strongest condemnation of your recent actions and public statements, which have further deepened concerns about your fitness to continue in office," the petition read. The ADC accused Amupitan of undermining the neutrality of the electoral body through public statements and actions which it described as "disgraceful and unbecoming" of the office.

On the specific question of legal interpretation, the ADC drew a clear constitutional line. "The interpretation of court judgments is the exclusive preserve of the Judiciary," the party stated. "For the Chairman of INEC to publicly assume that role, offering partisan constructions of legal outcomes in a manner that appears to favour a particular individual, amounts to a serious constitutional breach and an affront to the doctrine of separation of powers."

Ahead of the crucial 2027 polls, trust in Nigeria’s election process might weaken - so the party cautioned - if INEC keeps favoring certain groups instead of staying neutral like the Constitution demands. What INEC must do is straightforward, according to the ADC: stay impartial, follow rules without overstepping. Acting like a judge or lawyer? That’s not its job. Instead, fairness and strict adherence to duty should guide every move it makes

One reason the ADC asked for the INEC chairman to step down lies buried in its own turmoil. Not long after July 29, 2025, things shifted during a party gathering - officials watched closely as INEC oversaw it. Out of that event came sweeping changes: old leaders were let go, replaced fast. Then David Mark took position as National Chairman, Rauf Aregbesola stepping into role of National Secretary.

Later on, people who used to work for the party came back months after quitting, saying they did not agree with the shift. At first, INEC accepted the updated group quietly, listing them properly online come September ninth, two thousand twenty-five. That situation shifted when the Court of Appeal stepped in, according to the ADC. What followed, they say, was a judicial instruction to return things to how they stood before any conflict arose. In their view, this points straight to reinstating the team under David Mark. From their angle, continuity matters more than recent motions.

Later that week, INEC made clear its choice wasn’t about taking sides. Instead, they said pulling the ADC leaders’ names from their website followed a binding order from the Court of Appeal. By April 1st, 2026, the electoral body had put a hold on every ADC function - no meetings, no gatherings - notably halting what was supposed to be a major national convention. The reason? Conflicting messages poured in from separate groups within the party, each insisting they were the rightful leaders, while court matters remained unresolved.

Once a top leader in Nigeria’s Senate, David Mark spoke plainly during an ADC media gathering. Not long after INEC made moves on April first, he said citizens have every reason to believe the election body picked a favorite. To him, the choice was clear - those running the vote process must step down without delay. His message carried weight: trust in Amupitan and the national panel has run out. Fair voting needs fresh hands, nothing less.

"We demand the immediate resignation or sack of the INEC Chairman, Professor Amupitan, and all the National Commissioners. We no longer have confidence in them," Mark said. He also issued a warning that carries legal implications. "This INEC under Professor Joash Amupitan will be held directly responsible for whatever actions or reactions follow this criminal path it has chosen."

Later this year, Osun and Ekiti face key governorship votes - set for August and June of 2026 - and the ADC voiced concern that moves by INEC might put their involvement at risk. Even so, Mark stood firm, stating the scheduled congresses will move forward starting April 9, followed by the national gathering on April 14, since nothing in law demands INEC show up in person.

Things didn’t go down the way ADC said they did, according to INEC. Signed by Adedayo Oketola, press spokesperson for the INEC Chairperson, their response shot down calls for stepping aside. What followed was framed not as political but lawful, following both constitution and judicial direction.

The way the Chairman and National Commissioners get their roles comes from Section 157 of the revised 1999 Constitution, INEC explained. For these positions, approval rests with both the President and the Senate - no room for demands from political groups. On concerns about weakening multiple parties, the body responded differently: three fresh ones joined recently - the Democratic Leadership Alliance, Nigeria Democratic Congress, then the National Democratic Party. That count now sits at twenty-two operating parties.

"Far from undermining the multi-party system, the Commission under Professor Joash O. Amupitan has actively expanded the democratic space," the INEC statement read. "INEC remains a neutral regulator, not a participant in political competition." The commission also said it was focused on the upcoming Ekiti and Osun elections and wouldn't be distracted by what it called unfounded allegations.

A sudden statement came from the All Progressives Congress, stepping into the dispute through a public briefing. Not tied to the turmoil in ADC leadership, they said - calling the complaint driven by political agendas instead. What was labeled false and deceptive stemmed directly from Senator Ajibola Basiru, party national secretary. His words sharpened on one point: claims of President Tinubu engineering chaos for dominance were nothing but distraction born within ADC itself

Out came Basiru’s sharp response when asked about demands to remove Amupitan. Calling for the dismissal of INEC leaders shows how little some grasp what goes into leading, he stated plainly. Pushing forward with party gatherings while court cases still hang? That move by the ADC group draws doubt, he noted. Respect for law seems shaky when decisions rush ahead like that.

What’s happening with the ADC and the pushback against the INEC chief isn’t just noise. This feels like the first tremor before a stormy political season leading into 2027. Across Nigeria, opposition groups are tracking every move around ADC’s situation closely. Should INEC shut down a party under legal pretense or hidden motive, that act becomes a blueprint - later dusted off when another faction fight emerges near election time. Precedent matters most when power is at stake. How today’s rulings play out might shape who gets to run tomorrow.

When the ADC claims INEC is helping create a one-party system, it hits hard - not just about what happened but what it says about trust. Nigeria runs on multiple parties sharing space under its constitution. Should anyone believe, rightly or wrongly, that election officials are favoring one side, faith in the 2027 polls begins crumbling long before ballots appear.

Should the ADC follow through on its warning, streets in every state plus Abuja could see quiet marches. That moment would show how well the party can rally people and coordinate action nationwide.

Out of nowhere, David Mark stepped into the political arena again. He once held the Senate presidency for eight years, starting back in 2007. During Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s time in office, he was already leading lawmakers. Later on, his role continued under Goodluck Ebele Jonathan too. Now when he claims INEC has picked a side, it carries weight. That kind of statement isn’t mere talk.

Here comes a straight question on many lips across Nigeria - could this really be about democracy, or just one group within the ADC wrapping old power struggles in fresh words? With rival wings locked in battle for dominance, each insists INEC supports only their opponent. What looks like principle might simply be positioning.

By 2027 something shifts - already the struggle for Nigeria’s voting system begins. Watch closely now since small choices by INEC ahead of that year reveal what kind of vote awaits later. How they act today shapes what truth tomorrow holds.

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Sources: Sahara Reporters