A coalition of prominent Nigerian political figures, including David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Wednesday led a massive protest to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
Defying steady rainfall, hundreds possibly thousands of demonstrators converged on the electoral body’s office, demanding transparency and accountability as political tensions gradually build ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The protest began earlier in the day at David Mark’s residence, where supporters and allies gathered for a morning service marking his 78th birthday. From there, the crowd moved in a coordinated march toward INEC headquarters, swelling significantly as more participants joined along the route.
Although initially linked to a faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the demonstration quickly evolved into a broader coalition movement. Members of multiple political parties and civil groups turned out, transforming it into a unified rally centered on defending democratic values and questioning the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system.
One of the protesters, Muyideen Bashiru, described the turnout as evidence of widespread concern across party lines. He noted that participants had traveled from various parts of the country to join the demonstration.
“We’re currently heading towards the INEC office. You can see the crowd—there are hundreds, possibly thousands of people gathered,” Bashiru said.
He added that the protest was peaceful and driven by what he described as a patriotic duty to safeguard democracy and resist any perceived drift toward authoritarianism.
Also present at the protest was Dino Melaye, alongside other political stakeholders.
The march, which began from Apo Legislative Quarters, saw protesters take over major roads in the Federal Capital Territory as the crowd continued to grow.
Bashiru revealed that the protest had initially been scheduled for the previous week but was postponed due to heavy security presence, including roadblocks and patrols. However, Wednesday’s demonstration appeared largely unannounced, suggesting a more spontaneous approach that may have caught security agencies off guard.
Despite the rain, the protest maintained a peaceful yet charged atmosphere, with demonstrators continuing to gather in large numbers at the INEC headquarters.
“You can see the crowd behind me—it’s still growing, and the energy is intense,” Bashiru added.
Credit: Vanguard
