April 20, (THEWILL) — Youth members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have announced coordinated protests at offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos, Ogun and Jigawa states under the campaign hashtag #AmupitanMustGo, in what they described as a sustained push against alleged institutional bias in the party’s leadership crisis.
The mobilisation, tagged “Operation Occupy INEC”, is being spearheaded by the party’s National Youth Leader, Balarabe Rufai, who disclosed that the demonstrations are to compel INEC to reverse what the youth wing described as a partisan handling of internal party disputes.
According to the protest schedule, Lagos youths are to converge at 8:00 a.m. at Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), while Ogun State protesters are expected to gather at 11:00 a.m. at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) office in Abeokuta. A similar mobilisation is also being planned for Jigawa State.
As of the time of filing this report, no protest activity had commenced at any INEC office nationwide, and it remains unclear whether the demonstrations will proceed as announced.
The action follows INEC’s April 1 decision recognising rival factions within the ADC, citing a March 12 Court of Appeal judgement ordering that the status quo be maintained in the party’s leadership dispute.
ADC youths have rejected the commission’s position, accusing it of partisanship and demanding the immediate removal of INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan.
In a separate statement, Rufai said the Lagos youth wing had already taken a firm position on the matter, insisting that INEC must act to restore legitimacy within the party.
“Lagos ADC Youth Wing has taken a firm and peaceful stand, occupying INEC to deliver a clear message: the rule of law must be respected, due process must be upheld, Amupitan must resign immediately, and the Senator David Mark-led leadership must be restored without delay”, Rufai stated.
He added that the protest was not intended to incite disorder but to demand institutional accountability.
“This is a call for accountability, not chaos. When institutions fail to act with fairness, citizens have a duty to respond with courage and clarity. The demand is simple: restore integrity or step aside”, he said.
The youth wing is also demanding the reinstatement of the leadership structure aligned with former Senate President, David Mark, whom they recognise as central to resolving the party’s internal crisis.
The planned protests come weeks after a similar “Occupy INEC” demonstration in Abuja on April 8, where several prominent political figures participated, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, ADC National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, former Kano Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and former Kogi Senator, Dino Melaye.
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