ADC: Heavy security presence at INEC headquarters to prevent rival clashes
There was heavy security presence around the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday to prevent possible clashes between rival groups of supporters within the African Democratic Congress
- From Tony Akowe, Abuja
There was heavy security presence around the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday to prevent possible clashes between rival groups of supporters within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
A combined team of men of the Nigeria Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC and the Department Security Service, SSS, were stationed at all entrance to the INEC headquarter located in the Maitama area of Abuja metropolis.
The security personnel monitored developments within the area while restricting access of people to the commission.
Our correspondent gathered that there had been mass mobilisation on social media under the hashtag #OccupyINEC.
A group of youths, operating under the auspices of “Concerned Nigeria Youth Forum,” had stormed the commission in the early hours of the day in solidarity with the decision of the commission to remove the name of Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from the INEC website.
The Commission had on Wednesday night removed the names of Senator David Mark and his leadership from the website, while saying it will not longer deal with any faction of the party pending the determination of a suit challenging the legality of the Mark led leadership.
The youths who carried a large banner with the inscription “For a Credible Process in the Best Interest of Nigeria,” marched through traffic in the area, chanting slogans and calling for INEC to uphold its commitment to fair elections.
The was met with a significant security presence around the INEC headquarters, disrupting vehicular traffic to organisations located around the area.
Officials of the Nigeria Police were seen intercepting the group near the INEC headquarters, leading to a brief standoff.
Although the atmosphere looked tensed while it lasted, interaction between the group and security personnel remained largely non-violent as officers worked to manage the flow of traffic and prevent the crowd from breaching the main gates.
A spokesperson of the youths whose name could not immediately be identified said the motivation behind the march, pointing to recent public discourse surrounding the commission’s performance.
“Recently, we have observed a campaign of calumny and undue attacks against INEC. We are here to say that the interest of the country must come first. We want a credible process, and we want the commission to know that the youth of this nation are watching,” he said.
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According to them, their peaceful march was a “support” effort, intended to pressure the commission into maintaining neutrality and transparency amidst political pressure from various quarters.
Another group know as the National Opposition Movement, had written to the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, requesting “traffic control and escort support for a planned peaceful protest on 2nd April, 2026”.
The group said their protest is a lawful civic engagement and will involve an organised procession along designated routes within the city,” the group said in the letter signed by its leader, Kasimu Maigari.
The group, which is aligned with the David Mark-led ADC leadership, said it would start its protest from the Transcorp Hilton Junction in Maitama, move through the Shehu Shagari Way and end at the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the Three Arms Zone.
It was also gathered that several other groups had planned to storm the INEC headquarters in protest of the decision to delist the names of the ADC leaders from the website.
