…urges electoral umpire to avoid being used to undermine democracy
Seun Shotunde, Abeokuta
The Conference of United Political Parties (CUPP), Ogun State Chapter, yesterday vowed to resist attempts by Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to disrecognise the leadership of Former Senate President, David Mark, as the National Chairman of African Democratic Congress(ADC) ahead the 2027 General elections.
The development followed the call by Mark asking for the removal of INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, describing the electoral body’s decision to withdraw recognition of the party’s leadership under him as an” attack on democracy”, attempt by the ruling party to turn the country into one-party state.
However, in a statement on Friday, the State’s Chairman of CUPP, Otunba Femi Soluade, accused INEC of trying to sabotage democracy by for not recognizing Mark’s leadership as ADC National Chairman stressing that such action undermined internal party process in the country, insisting that CUPP would resist the move.
Soluade urged the electoral body not to allow its self be used as tools in the hands of the ruling All Progressive Congress(APC) to destroy democracy stressing that such action set a dangerous precedent for regulatory bodies to be perceived tools used to weaken opposition voices in democracy.
He admonished INEC to immediately reinstate its decision and live up to its tasks of independence and neutrality that is saddle with the responsibility of protecting and strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process, noting that the injustice would not stand while calling on Nigerians to resist any attempt to undermine the democratic order.
The chairman said ” it is deeply disturbing that INEC has chosen an ignomable path capable of undermining internal party processes and destabilizing the democratic space. Such actions, if left unchecked, set a dangerous precedent where regulatory bodies could be perceived as instruments used to weaken opposition voices in our democracy.”
“Let it be clearly stated: this is not about the ADC alone. What is happening today to one political party could happen to any other tomorrow, because injustice to one is injustice to All, This injustice is an affront to democratic values, principles and to the collective will of Nigerians who believe in a fair, transparent, and independent electoral system.”
“As Chairman of CUPP in Ogun State, I make it unequivocally clear that we will never allow any institution to destroy or erode the foundations of our democracy. Nigeria’s democracy was built through sacrifice, struggle, and the collective resilience of the Nigerian people. No administrative maneuver or questionable decision should be allowed to reverse those gains.”
“This is therefore a wake up call to lovers of democracy,the time for all reasonable opposition parties, civil society organizations, democratic advocates, and patriotic Nigerians to rise and lend their voices against this development. Silence at this critical moment will only embolden further actions that may weaken democratic institutions and political pluralism in our country.”
“INEC must immediately retrace its steps and ensure that its actions remain within the bounds of the law, fairness, and democratic principles. The commission must remember that its credibility depends on the confidence Nigerians have in its neutrality and adherence to constitutional responsibilities.”
“Nigeria’s democracy belongs to the people, not to institutions or individuals who may wish to manipulate it. This injustice will not stand, and Nigerians must resist any attempt to undermine the democratic order” he added.
