ADC Youth Protest in Gombe, Gives INEC 72-Hour Ultimatum Over Leadership Dispute

ADC Youth Protest in Gombe, Gives INEC 72-Hour Ultimatum Over Leadership Dispute

By Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe

The Gombe state Youth Leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Amadu Dauda Jadda, has issued a strong-worded demand to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), calling for the immediate restoration of what he described as the “lawful leadership” of the party and accusing the electoral body of undermining democratic principles.

In a letter addressed to the Chairman of INEC, the youth leader who led other group on a peaceful protest to Gombe INEC office, expressed “deep concern” over recent decisions relating to the leadership structure of the ADC, warning that such actions risk eroding public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.

The group referenced a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on July 29, 2025, which it said was conducted under regulatory supervision and resulted in the emergence of a leadership team headed by Senator David Mark. According to the letter, INEC initially acknowledged and officially recognized the leadership on September 9, 2025, without objections or legal contention at the time.

However, the youth wing alleged a subsequent reversal by the Commission, which it claims was influenced by correspondence and pending judicial processes. It described the development as inconsistent with INEC’s earlier position and detrimental to institutional credibility.

The statement further argued that INEC lacks constitutional authority to interpret court orders, insisting that such powers rest exclusively with the judiciary. It warned that reliance on interlocutory motions or ex parte applications, in the absence of final judicial determination, could set a “dangerous precedent” in electoral administration.

Consequently, the group issued a 72-hour ultimatum, demanding the restoration of the Senator David Mark-led leadership on INEC’s official records and portal and a public apology to Nigerians over alleged breaches of constitutional order.

The group also demanded the immediate cessation of reliance on non-final court processes in party matters as well as strict adherence to neutrality in political party disputes

The group warned that failure to comply could trigger coordinated civic action across the country, including what it described as peaceful occupation of INEC offices nationwide. It maintained that such actions would be lawful expressions of civic responsibility rather than acts of disruption.

The development adds a new layer of tension to ongoing internal disputes within the ADC, raising fresh concerns over party legitimacy, regulatory interpretation, and the broader credibility of electoral oversight mechanisms in Nigeria’s democratic framework.