In a powerful and direct accusation, Ralph Nwosu, the former National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has vehemently alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recent decision to derecognise the party’s leadership was politically orchestrated. Nwosu made these explosive claims during an interview on Channels Television, directly challenging the electoral body's actions.
INEC's Actions Under Scrutiny
The controversy stems from INEC’s removal of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from their positions as ADC National Chairman and Secretary, respectively. INEC stated that its intervention was necessitated by a court order, instructing the commission to uphold the 'status quo ante bellum' pending the resolution of a lawsuit questioning the legitimacy of the party’s leadership structure.
However, Nwosu sharply contradicted INEC's interpretation of the judicial directive. “The INEC interpretation is wrong, what the Appeal Court did is wrong and they’re all inspired by the Jagaban of Nigerian politics,” he declared, hinting at a powerful, overarching political influence.
Allegations of Bias and Political Alignment
Further escalating his claims, the former ADC chairman explicitly accused the electoral body’s leadership of partiality, asserting a direct alignment with the ruling party. “And now, it’s clear that Amupitan is an APC member and the Jagaban of Nigeria seems to have collapsed some agencies and judges to sing the song of APC,” Nwosu alleged, pointing fingers at specific individuals and institutions.
Nwosu connected this specific incident to what he described as a concerning, wider pattern in Nigeria’s political landscape. He argued, “Since 2019, once individual seizes the politics of Lagos despite the diversity of the city and continuously collapsed other parties to sing the APC song. When he became the president, he imagined he can do the same thing as far as Nigeria is concerned, and that is what Nigerians are resisting.”
ADC: A Vehicle for Democratic Resistance
Despite the challenges, Nwosu affirmed ADC’s unwavering commitment as a crucial platform for opposition and democratic resistance. “It’s not about me, not about ADC. We have provided Nigerians a clear vehicle to be able to resist this monstrous force,” he stated, framing the party’s struggle as a broader fight for democratic principles.
#OccupyINEC Protest Gathers Momentum
Nwosu’s remarks followed closely on the heels of the high-profile #OccupyINEC protest, which saw a coalition of opposition leaders converge on INEC Headquarters in Abuja. This significant demonstration, held recently on Wednesday, aimed to demand the resignation of Joash Amupitan, the INEC Chairman, amidst growing accusations of partisanship and constitutional breaches.
The protesting leaders asserted that Amupitan's actions pose a grave threat to Nigeria’s multi-party democracy. Prominent figures from various opposition parties and former political leaders who participated in the protest included:
- Peter Obi
- Atiku Abubakar
- Rabiu Kwankwaso
- David Mark
- Rauf Aregbesola
- Rotimi Amaechi