ADC Youth Wing Gives INEC 72-Hour Ultimatum: ‘Restore Democracy or Face Nationwide Civic Action’

ABUJA — Nigeria’s political crisis deepened Monday as the Youth Wing of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) issued a three-day ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding the immediate restoration of the party’s legitimate leadership or risk mass civil disobedience across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

At a tense press conference at the ADC national headquarters in Abuja, youth leader Comrade Balarabe Rufa’i accused INEC of “institutional sabotage” and “unconstitutional partisanship” after the commission allegedly ignored a clear court directive and unlawfully interfered in the party’s leadership structure.

“Nigeria is under democratic siege,” Rufa’i told journalists. “Institutions meant to defend the will of the people are now being compromised, weakened, and weaponized against democracy itself. This is not a warning. This is a crisis.”

‘No Ambiguity’

The dispute stems from a July 29, 2025, National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ADC, held under INEC supervision, which dissolved the previous National Working Committee and installed new leadership headed by former Senate President Senator David Mark.

Rufa’i said INEC received, verified, and officially uploaded the new leadership on its portal on September 9, 2025 — with “no dispute, no objection, no ambiguity.”

But months later, he alleged, political pressure led INEC to reverse course after individuals who had already resigned challenged the process. Though the Court of Appeal ordered the maintenance of the status quo ante bellum — which the ADC insists means the Senator David Mark leadership — INEC allegedly acted on an ex parte motion that has not been heard or determined by any court.

“INEC has no constitutional authority to interpret court orders,” Rufa’i said. “That duty belongs strictly to the courts. What INEC has done is not neutrality. It is complicity.”

Three Demands, One Warning

The ADC Youth Wing gave INEC 72 hours to:

1. Immediately restore the Senator David Mark-led leadership on its official portal.
2. Publicly apologize to Nigerians for “unconstitutional and partisan conduct.”
3. Cease all actions based on letters, pending motions, or non-binding processes without express court orders.

The group also demanded the “immediate resignation or removal” of the INEC Chairman for allegedly undermining the commission’s credibility.

Should INEC fail to comply, Rufa’i warned of “nationwide, peaceful, and lawful civic action” beginning within days, including the occupation of INEC offices across all states and the FCT, sustained civil resistance, and mass mobilization of civil society organizations.

“We will not retreat. We will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced,” he said. “This is bigger than ADC. This is about Nigeria.”

Call for Oversight and Military Neutrality

The youth wing separately called on the National Assembly to launch an immediate oversight investigation into INEC’s conduct, including potential proceedings to recall or remove the electoral chief.

The group also urged the judiciary to clarify its orders to prevent manipulation, and issued a direct appeal to the armed forces: “The military must remain neutral and stay away from civic democratic actions. This is a civil and constitutional matter. Nigeria must not witness any attempt to use force against lawful democratic expression.”

In a pointed message to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Rufa’i warned: “Nigeria is not a one-party state. Any attempt to weaken opposition forces is a direct threat to democracy.”

As of Monday evening, INEC had not issued an official response. The 72-hour clock began at the conclusion of the ADC’s press conference.

With tensions already high over broader concerns about electoral integrity and democratic backsliding in Africa’s most populous nation, political observers warned that a standoff between a major opposition party and the electoral commission — with youth-led mass action looming — could ignite wider unrest.

“Restore democracy or face the resolve of the Nigerian people,” Rufa’i said. “Or we take it back by the popular will of the Nigerian people.”