Supporters of a faction of the African Democratic Congress on Wednesday staged a protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja, demanding the recognition of Nafiu Bala as the party’s National Chairman.
The demonstrators, led by Bala, said their demand was based on a March 12, 2026 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which they argued must be obeyed to uphold the rule of law.
The protest comes amid a lingering leadership crisis within the party, with rival factions laying claim to its national structure.
The protesters, who marched to the commission’s headquarters chanting solidarity songs, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Obey the Court,” “INEC must recognise Nafiu Bala as Chairman,” and “No to impunity.”
Security operatives, however, prevented them from gaining access into the premises.
Addressing journalists, the Special Adviser on Strategy to the ADC chairman, Abimiku Monday, accused INEC of failing to comply with a valid court order.
He said the party had formally notified the commission of the appellate court judgment through its lawyers on March 15 and followed it up with another letter on March 27, warning of possible contempt proceedings.
He said, “The persistent refusal of INEC to comply with a valid court order is a matter of grave concern. This disregard for judicial authority undermines the rule of law and threatens the very foundation of our democracy. It is imperative to recognize that no institution in Nigeria is above the law.
“When a public body, particularly one tasked with overseeing elections, chooses to ignore the orders of a superior court, it sends a dangerous message that the rule of law is optional.
“Such actions not only erode public trust in our institutions but also set a precedent that could have far-reaching implications for the future of our democracy.”
Monday added that disobedience to court orders by a public institution could erode public trust and set a dangerous precedent.
Also speaking, a co-convener of the protest, Abdullahi Ahmed, said the demonstration was aimed at defending democratic principles and safeguarding the integrity of the electoral system.
Similarly, the leader of the League of Civil Society Groups, Basah Mohammed, said the protest was not driven by partisan interests but by the need to protect institutional credibility.
He said, “We demand in the spirit of non-partisanship that the umpire should also play by those rules. INEC should be unbiased. In a situation where a referee would be seen to be playing in favour of one of the contesting teams is not a very healthy one.
“Furthermore, we urge INEC to resist all forms of external pressure from political actors, influential individuals, and vested interests seeking to influence its actions. The independence of INEC must not only exist in theory, it must not just exist in name, but must be demonstrated clearly in practice.
“We also call on the National Assembly to exercise its oversight responsibilities and ensure that public institutions operate within constitutional limits. Oversight is a constitutional duty and an essential safeguard for democracy.”
Another activist, Danielson Momoh, warned of possible electoral consequences if the dispute persists, citing past political crises that led to legal complications.
Providing further clarification, co-convener Igwe Ude-Umanta said the appellate court’s directive to maintain the status quo ante bellum was clear, adding that it had been consistently interpreted by the Supreme Court.
He said, “To bring clarity to what we are saying, the INEC chairman is a professor of law and a senior advocate. So we are not here to teach him law. The judgment given by the appeal court is clear. It refers to the status quo ante bellum. And the Supreme Court has severally defined what status quo ante bellum is. It simply means the state of affairs before the resumption of hostilities.
“The status quo is that the David Mark leadership, which is an invasion, should not be recognised. But INEC has gone on to continue doing businesses with them from that period. So we are here to say that to save democracy is to listen to the courts. Right now, tempers are high because people are manipulating the processes. It is unacceptable!”
Reacting, INEC’s Assistant Director of Security, Mohammed Hamma, appealed to the protesters to remain calm, noting that the commission’s leadership was currently out of Abuja on official assignment.
According to him, the INEC chairman and national commissioners were attending a workshop in Lagos, but assured the protesters that their petition would be delivered.
He said, “We are happy that you are here to deliver this all-important document to us. But unfortunately, there is nobody in the office. The entire management is in Lagos having a workshop.
“So, the only thing we can do is to collect this and give you an acknowledgement copy. The chairman and national commissioners including the directors are also not around.
“But I assure you that whatever document is accepted here now will definitely reach him.”
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