ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso have criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing it of partisanship and calling for a return to neutrality following Wednesday’s #Occupy INEC protest in Abuja.
The opposition leaders spoke after joining members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and coalition partners at the protest, which was staged to challenge recent decisions by the electoral body affecting the party’s leadership structure.
In a statement, Kwankwaso described the demonstration as a unified stand by opposition groups against what he termed bias by the commission.
“Today, I joined fellow coalition leaders and committed democrats to strongly condemn the blatant partisanship and compromised neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission,” he said.
He added that the protest sent a clear signal of resistance.
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“The peaceful procession in Abuja united various opposition groups in a clear message: we will not stand idly by while our electoral umpire undermines the will of the people.”
Kwankwaso further warned that the opposition would continue to keep a close watch on the commission’s activities.
“We shall continue to closely monitor INEC’s activities and demand that it immediately returns to the path of impartiality, transparency, and professionalism so that democracy can thrive in Nigeria,” he stated.
In a separate statement, Atiku said he joined other ADC leaders at the protest led by the party’s National Chairman, David Mark.
“This morning, I joined other patriotic leaders of the ADC… led by our indefatigable National Chairman, Sen. David Mark to participate in a peaceful protest against the partisanship of INEC and the tyranny of the Tinubu-led APC administration,”* he said.
He stressed that the protest delivered a strong message to authorities.
“I believe they received the message that this effort to undermine our democracy will not succeed. It will be resisted and challenged to the best of our abilities.”
Atiku also called for international attention to the situation.
“I also hope that the international community is paying attention to the threat to Nigeria, its democracy, and the opposition,” he added.
The protest followed rising tensions between ADC factions and INEC after the commission announced it would no longer recognise communications from rival leadership groups within the party, citing a subsisting court order.
Earlier in the day, party leaders and supporters, alongside prominent opposition figures, converged on Maitama Roundabout in Abuja under the #OccupyINEC banner, demanding electoral reforms and accusing the commission of actions capable of undermining Nigeria’s multi-party democratic system.