The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of planning a protest in Abuja aimed at undermining its leadership.
In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the protest is part of a broader scheme to destabilise the ADC following recent political developments.
Titled “APC’s Desperate Plan Uncovered,” the statement claimed the alleged plot came after a failed attempt to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into taking “illegal action” against the party.
“Yesterday, we disclosed a sinister plot by agents of the ruling APC government to pressure INEC into taking illegal action to destabilise our party, following the milestone movement of H.E. Rabiu Kwankwaso to the ADC.
After meeting a brick wall with INEC, they have now changed tactics, but the objectives remain the same,” the statement read.
The ADC further alleged that a protest planned for Thursday, April 2, in Abuja is being orchestrated with the support of a government official.
“Information reaching us this morning is that a public protest is being planned for tomorrow… sponsored by a particularly notorious minister. Their expectation is that a protest will give oxygen to a case that is already suffocating in the courts under the weight of its own illegality,” it said.
According to the party, the demonstration would involve a “paid crowd” pretending to be aggrieved members demanding the removal of Senator David Mark from the party’s leadership.
“The plan is simple: a paid crowd… will take to the streets demanding ‘David Mark Must Go’. This, they hope, will create ‘public pressure’ on the INEC Chairman to magically upgrade and recognise an individual who resigned his position… to the position of National Chairman of a party he no longer belongs to,” the statement added.
Describing the alleged move as a wider attempt by the APC to “hijack” its leadership, the ADC warned that it signals growing desperation.
“They are not just afraid of our momentum. They are afraid of what happens when the Nigerian people start paying attention and begin to believe that change is possible,” it stated.
The party, however, insisted it would continue to operate within the law while resisting any illegal interference.
“If they are not acting on his orders, President Bola Tinubu should rein in his enforcers before it is too late,” the statement added.