Prominent politicians across party lines, including former Senate President David Mark, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Kano Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, and ex‑Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola, on Wednesday led a massive protest to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja to demand electoral accountability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Defying heavy rain, the demonstrators marched from Mark’s Abuja residence where they had initially gathered to mark his 78th birthday and swelled into a broad coalition as they moved through the Federal Capital Territory. The crowd took over major roads, with participants traveling in from multiple states.
What began as a rally linked to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) quickly grew into a multi‑party, multi‑regional coalition, cutting across traditional political divides. Protesters said the demonstration was rescheduled from last week due to heavy security deployment, but Wednesday’s march appeared spontaneous and caught authorities off guard.
Despite the downpour, the atmosphere at the INEC office was described as intense but orderly. Organizers said the core demand is a “credible, transparent electoral process” before 2027, citing concerns over voter registration, BVAS reliability, results transmission, and appointment of RECs.
INEC has not issued an official response as of press time. Security agencies maintained a watchful presence but did not disperse the crowd. No violence was reported.
The protest marks one of the largest cross‑party demonstrations at INEC headquarters since the 2023 elections, signaling rising political pressure 10 months before off‑cycle governorship polls and less than two years to the next presidential race.
