By Admin
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate resignation of the Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, accusing the electoral body of undermining democracy and interfering in political parties’ internal affairs.
The ADC made the demand on Thursday at a world press conference addressed in Abuja by its National Chairman, David Mark.
Mark was flanked by former presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, all of whom defected from their political parties to join a coalition of opposition parties under the ADC.
Also present at the press conference were former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung; former senator Dino Melaye and the Abia South senator, Enyinnaya Abaribe.
Mark expressed concerns over what he described as a shrinking democratic space in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He alleged that INEC’s recent decision to freeze recognition of the ADC leadership has raised serious questions about the commission’s neutrality and independence.
He said the INEC Chairperson, Amupitan, can no longer be trusted, even as he accused the commission of deliberate misinterpretation of an order of the Court of Appeal to de-recognise the party.
“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. We are convinced that they are incapable of conducting any credible election,” he said.
Mark, a former Senate president, also said the party would continue its activities despite INEC’s suspension of the recognition of its leadership. He maintained that no law makes INEC’s attendance a mandatory requirement for the activities to be held.
INEC had suspended the recognition of the ADC, in compliance with a Court of Appeal ruling that directed parties, including the electoral body, to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the leadership crisis suit at the Federal High Court.
A former vice-national chairperson of the party, Nafiu Bala, had challenged Mark’s emergence as the party’s national chairman at the Federal High Court following the resignation of Ralph Nwosu from the position last year
Bala, a former national vice chairman of the party, sought to be declared the party’s national chairman in line with the party’s constitution. The case is still pending.
Mark said that all consultations with its counsel revealed that there is no legal interpretation or precedent that warrants INEC to de-recognise the party in the face of an order to maintain the status quo.
He said INEC should’ve approached the Court of Appeal for judicial interpretation if it was confused about it.
“While posturing to be neutral, its actions confirm that it has become irredeemably partisan, working, as it were, towards a preconceived agenda. With its action, this INEC has left no one in doubt that it has chosen the path of dishonour and has become complicit in undermining Nigeria’s democracy. It therefore can no longer be trusted,” he said
Mark also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using Mr Bala to destabilise the party, describing him as a willing tool in the hands of the ruling party.
He said the ruling party is determined to cling to power by all means, even if it means throwing the country into an avoidable crisis.
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