Members of the African Democratic Congress in Jigawa State on Monday, April 21, 2026, held a peaceful protest at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Dutse, where they called for the recognition of what they described as the party’s authentic national leadership. The protesters gathered at the commission’s state office and formally submitted a petition outlining their concerns.
During the demonstration, the group maintained that the leadership headed by David Mark remains the lawful authority of the party. They accused the electoral body of acting unfairly in its handling of the party’s internal leadership issue and claimed that its actions were affecting trust in the democratic process.
The protesters argued that the commission does not have the power to interpret court rulings, stating that such responsibility lies with the judiciary. They warned that any action outside this role could weaken confidence in electoral processes and governance.
Among the demands presented were the restoration of the recognised leadership on the commission’s official platform, an apology to the public, and accountability from the commission’s leadership. The group also called for the removal of the INEC chairman over what they described as actions not in line with constitutional duties.
In response, the Administrative Secretary of INEC in Jigawa State, Ibrahim Idris, received the petition and assured the protesters that their concerns would be forwarded to the commission’s headquarters for consideration.