Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of partisanship, calling for a return to neutrality following the #OccupyINEC protest in Abuja.
The opposition figures spoke after joining leaders of the African Democratic Congress and other coalition partners during a demonstration on Wednesday, organised to challenge recent decisions by the electoral body affecting the party’s leadership structure.
Kwankwaso described the protest as a unified stance by opposition groups against what he termed bias by the commission.
“Today, I joined fellow coalition leaders and committed democrats to strongly condemn the blatant partisanship and compromised neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission,” he said.
He added that the peaceful procession sent a strong signal that opposition groups would not tolerate actions capable of undermining democratic principles.
“We shall continue to closely monitor INEC’s activities and demand that it immediately returns to the path of impartiality, transparency, and professionalism so that democracy can thrive in Nigeria,” Kwankwaso stated.
In a separate remark, Atiku said he joined the protest alongside other ADC leaders led by the party’s National Chairman, David Mark.
“This morning, I joined other patriotic leaders of the ADC… to participate in a peaceful protest against the partisanship of INEC and the tyranny of the Tinubu-led APC administration,” he said.
He warned that any attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democracy would be resisted, adding that the international community should take note of developments.
The protest followed rising tensions between factions within the ADC and INEC after the commission announced it would no longer recognise communications from rival leadership groups in the party, citing a subsisting court order.
Earlier, protesters gathered at Maitama Roundabout in Abuja under the #OccupyINEC banner, demanding electoral reforms and accusing the commission of actions that could weaken Nigeria’s multi-party system.
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