The African Democratic Congress (ADC) faction led by Senator David Mark has called for the removal of INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan, accusing him of bias and complicity in a plot to undermine democracy. In response, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed the allegations as unfounded and politically motivated. Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Friday, APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru stated that President Bola Tinubu has no constitutional authority to interfere with INEC or deregister political parties. He described the ADC's claims as baseless and a distraction from its internal leadership crisis.
Basiru pointed to a Court of Appeal ruling that dismissed the ADC faction's appeal as incompetent and directed parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum. He said INEC was merely implementing that judgment. The APC accused the Mark-led faction of disregarding court orders by attempting to hold party congresses amid ongoing litigation. Basiru called their demand for Amupitan's removal "reckless" and reflective of a poor grasp of democratic institutions. He dismissed the group's claim of being a strong opposition, citing its weak electoral performance. "Leadership of the opposition is not declared through a press conference… it is earned through consistent electoral credibility and public trust," Basiru said. The APC urged the faction to resolve its internal disputes rather than blame external actors.
The ADC faction's public campaign against INEC's leadership reveals more about its internal disarray than any real threat to democracy. By targeting Joash Amupitan over a court-backed decision, Senator David Mark's group signals desperation, not principle. When a party's main strategy becomes blaming the electoral body for its legal defeats, its credibility erodes. For Nigerian voters, this episode underscores how often opposition fractures are dressed up as institutional defence.
