ADC Youths Issue Final Ultimatum to INEC Over David Mark’s Removal; Threaten to Shut Down Offices Nationwide in ‘Occupy INEC’ Protest

The youth wing of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has “flipped the script” on the ongoing leadership crisis, moving from legal complaints to the threat of direct street action. On Monday, April 6, 2026, hundreds of party supporters gathered at the ADC national headquarters in Abuja to issue a 72-hour ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Their message was clear: restore the leadership of Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, or face a total shutdown of INEC operations across the federation.

The “Solution” to the crisis, according to National Youth Leader Balarabe Rufa’i, is for INEC to reverse its recent decision to delist the party’s top officials. Rufa’i argued that INEC’s sudden removal of the leaders citing a controversial court order—is a “deliberate attempt to undermine 27 years of civil rule.” He pointed out that INEC had already verified and recognized the leadership transition back in 2025, and accused the commission of “acting as a judge in its own case” by interpreting court rulings to suit a specific political agenda.

“Nigeria is under democratic siege,” Rufa’i declared during the press briefing. “INEC has no constitutional authority to interpret court orders; that is the job of the judiciary. Their actions are not neutral; they are partisan.” The youth leader warned that if the portal is not updated by Thursday morning, the “Renewed Hope” for a fair 2027 election will be dead, and the youths will have no choice but to “reclaim their party” through massive civic action.

As the clock ticks toward the Thursday deadline, tension is mounting at the INEC headquarters in Maitama. While the commission has yet to officially respond to the ultimatum, security has reportedly been tightened around government offices in the FCT. For the ADC, which has been positioning itself as a “Third Force” for the upcoming elections, the next 72 hours will determine whether the party survives as a legal entity or sinks deeper into a state of leaderless turmoil.