Nigeria's opposition political space just caught fire as the African Democratic Congress has formally submitted a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission demanding the immediate resignation or removal of INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan — and the language of that petition is not polite. The ADC, led by former Senate President David Mark, is accusing Nigeria's electoral umpire of partisan conduct, gross misconduct and constitutional breaches that it says pose a direct threat to Nigeria's multi-party democracy ahead of 2027. INEC has already dismissed the demands, The APC has called the petition reckless. And the ADC has threatened nationwide protests if nothing changes. With the 2027 general elections approaching, this confrontation between a major opposition party and the electoral commission carries enormous stakes for Nigerian democracy.
The petition, dated April 8, 2026, was submitted through the party's National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, and received at INEC's national headquarters in Abuja at approximately 11:29am. The document obtained by SaharaReporters is strongly worded from the first paragraph and pulls no punches in its accusations against the INEC chairman.
"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."
The party also warned that INEC under it's current leadership had abandoned constitutional neutrality and aligned itself with factional interests a development it said could erode public confidence in Nigeria's electoral system ahead of the critical 2027 elections. "It's not the role of INEC to act as a court of law or an advocate," the ADC stated. "It's duty is clear: to operate strictly within the bounds of the Constitution with absolute neutrality and professionalism."
To understand why the ADC has reached the point of formally petitioning for the removal of the INEC chairman, you need to understand the internal crisis that triggered everything. The dispute traces back to a National Executive Committee meeting held on July 29, 2025, which was supervised by INEC itself. That meeting resulted in the dissolution of the previous National Working Committee and the election of a new leadership under Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.
According to the ADC, INEC initially recognised this new leadership without objection uploading and recognising it officially on September 9 2025. Then months later former party officials who had already resigned resurfaced to contest the leadership change. The Court of Appeal subsequently became involved, with the ADC claiming the court ordered that the "status quo ante bellum" the last uncontested position be maintained, which they argue means the David Mark-led leadership should be recognised.
INEC's version is different the commission says it removed the ADC leadership's names from it's portal in direct compliance with a Court of Appeal judgment not out of partisan bias. On April 1, 2026, INEC suspended all ADC activities including the party's planned national convention, citing the ongoing legal dispute and formal communications from rival factions each claiming authority over the party.
Former Senate President David Mark, who served as Nigeria's number three citizen for eight years under Presidents Obasanjo and Yar'Adua, didn't mince his words at the ADC press conference. "There is only one conclusion that Nigerians can draw from the April 1st action taken by INEC the electoral umpire has taken sides," he declared. He called for the immediate resignation or removal of Amupitan and all National Commissioners, stating that the party had lost confidence in their ability to conduct free and fair elections.
"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."
The ADC also warned that INEC's actions could jeopardise the party's participation in upcoming governorship elections in Osun in August 2026 and Ekiti in June 2026. Despite the controversy, Mark insisted the party would proceed with its planned congresses beginning April 9 and its national convention on April 14, noting that INEC's physical presence at such events wasn't a legal requirement.
INEC haven't accepted the ADC's characterisation of events. In a statement signed by Adedayo Oketola, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, the commission dismissed the removal demands and defended its actions as strictly constitutional and court-ordered.
INEC pointed out that the appointment, tenure and removal of the Chairman and National Commissioners are governed by Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution as amended a process that involves the President and Senate confirmation, not a party petition. The commission also pushed back on the claim that it's undermining multi-party democracy by pointing to the recent registration of three new political parties the Democratic Leadership Alliance, Nigeria Democratic Congress and National Democratic Party bringing the total number of active parties to 22.
"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.
The All Progressives Congress waded into the controversy with it's own press conference, denying any involvement in the ADC leadership crisis and dismissing the petition as politically motivated. APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru described the ADC's claim that President Tinubu was orchestrating the crisis to impose a one-party state as "baseless, misleading and a desperate attempt to deflect from internal crises."
On the call for Amupitan's removal specifically, Basiru didn't hold back. "Their call for the sack of INEC Chairman and commissioners exposes a lack of seriousness and understanding of leadership processes," he said. He also criticised the ADC faction for insisting on proceeding with congresses despite ongoing litigation, raising questions about if the party respects legal processes.
The ADC crisis and the petition against the INEC chairman aren't isolated events. They are the opening salvos of what is shaping up to be a fiercely contested 2027 general election cycle. Opposition parties across Nigeria are watching what happens to ADC very carefully. If INEC can effectively freeze a party's activities if through court compliance or partisan choice it sets a precedent that could be used against any opposition party that faces internal disputes ahead of the 2027 elections.
The ADC's accusation that INEC is acting to facilitate a one-party state is a serious charge that resonates beyond the specific facts of this case. Nigeria's constitution is built on a multi-party democratic framework. Any perception justified or not that the electoral umpire is tilting the playing field will undermine public confidence in the 2027 elections before a single vote is cast.
The ADC has also threatened nationwide peaceful protests across all 36 states and the FCT if INEC ignores it's demands. if that threat materialises will be an important test of the party's organisational strength and public support.
David Mark don enter the ring as old show for political matter, The man wey be Senate President for eight years from 2007 to 2015 he served as Senate president during late president Umaru musa yara'dua he also serve as Senate president during Goodluck Ebele Jonathan regime. When he say INEC don take sides, that na a serious accusation no be just noise.
But the question wey Nigerians dey ask na very simple, is this genuinely about democracy or is this about one faction of ADC using democracy language to win an internal party fight? Because two factions of the same party are fighting for control, and both sides are claiming INEC favour whoever no dey favour them.
if na genuine or not the thing be say 2027 dey come and the battle for the soul of Nigeria's electoral commission has already started, Make we watch how this plays out because the decisions INEC takes in these smaller fights before 2027 will tell us everything about if the big election will be free and fair.
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Sources: Sahara Reporters