A fresh political tension is brewing within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as youth groups and aspirants from the South-West have announced a seven-day protest tagged “Occupy INEC South-West Protest” over the alleged delisting of the party’s national leadership from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.
The mobilisation comes amid growing concerns within the party that its leadership crisis could undermine its scheduled national convention slated for Tuesday, April 14, in Abuja, the same day a court is expected to deliver judgment on the dispute surrounding the party’s national chairman and national secretary.
Organisers of the planned demonstration warned that the convention risks being rendered ineffective if the electoral commission fails to restore the party’s full recognition status ahead of the legal determination.
In a mobilisation notice circulated to aspirants and youth coordinators across Lagos and Ogun States, the group called for full participation in what it described as a “peaceful democratic protest” beginning tomorrow at 9:00am and expected to run for seven days.
According to the directive, each aspirant across local government areas in Lagos and Ogun is expected to mobilise at least 200 youths to designated protest grounds, while also submitting details of coordinators for verification and logistics management.
Participants were also urged to engage security agencies to ensure orderliness during the protest, as well as provide financial backing to sustain the mobilisation effort.
The notice emphasised physical participation by aspirants, insisting that they must personally join the protest, which it described as critical to defending the party’s political future and the aspirations of its supporters.
“We are at a critical turning point in our party’s history,” the statement read, adding that the protest is aimed at defending “democratic rights” and ensuring that members’ voices are not silenced.
Youths across the South-West were further encouraged to participate en masse, with a strong warning that the protest must remain peaceful and disciplined to avoid undermining its objectives.
“Let it be clear: this is a peaceful protest. Any form of violence will undermine our cause and weaken our position,” the organisers cautioned.
The agitation is being coordinated under the office of the South-West youth leadership of the party.
The mobilisation message was signed by Olusi Adeola, National Assistant Youth Leader (South-West), who urged unity and strict adherence to instructions throughout the planned demonstration.
At the centre of the dispute is the alleged delisting of the party’s national chairman and national secretary from the INEC official portal, a development the organisers say has left the ADC in a state of uncertainty and threatened its operational legitimacy ahead of critical national engagements.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has not officially responded to the latest mobilisation as of press time.
The African Democratic Congress, African Democratic Congress, is currently navigating internal legal and administrative tensions that stakeholders fear could escalate if unresolved before the forthcoming court ruling and national convention.
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