A revisit to Nigeria’s political history shows that key figures of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including Muhammadu Buhari, Bola Tinubu, and Nasir el-Rufai, led a protest against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2013, calling for the resignation of its then chairman, Attahiru Jega.
According to historical reports, the protest took place on November 29, 2013, when APC leaders marched to INEC’s headquarters in Abuja to express dissatisfaction with the conduct and outcome of the Anambra State governorship election.
The election saw William Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) emerge victorious with 180,178 votes, succeeding Peter Obi.
Dissatisfied with the process, the APC leadership alleged electoral irregularities and insisted that the outcome did not reflect the will of the people. The party subsequently demanded that Jega step down as chairman of the electoral body.
The protest was spearheaded by prominent APC figures at the time, including Buhari, who later became Nigeria’s president in 2015; Bisi Akande, then serving as the party’s national chairman; Tinubu, who would go on to assume the presidency in 2023; Ogbonnaya Onu; and el-Rufai, who later served as governor of Kaduna State.
The demonstration remains a notable moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey, reflecting the intense political contestation and debates over electoral credibility during that period.
Credit: TheCable
