By Deborah Nnamdi
A coalition of prominent political figures, including former Senate President David Mark, led a mass protest to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Wednesday, demanding electoral accountability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Other notable figures at the protest included Peter Obi, Rauf Aregbesola, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye.
The protest drew a large crowd of demonstrators who defied steady rainfall to converge on the INEC headquarters, signalling growing political tension as the next election cycle approaches.
Participants had earlier assembled at Mark’s residence, where a morning service was held to commemorate his 78th birthday, before proceeding in a coordinated march to the electoral body’s office.
What initially began as a protest linked to a faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) quickly expanded into a broader movement, attracting supporters from various political parties and groups. The demonstration evolved into a coalition rally focused on defending democratic principles and raising concerns about the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system.
A protester, Muyideen Bashiru, said the turnout reflected widespread dissatisfaction that transcends party affiliations, noting that participants travelled from different parts of the country.
“We’re currently heading towards the INEC office. You can see the crowd; there are hundreds, possibly thousands of people gathered,” he said.
The march, which started from the Apo Legislative Quarters, gained momentum as more supporters joined along major roads in the Federal Capital Territory, significantly increasing the size of the crowd.
Bashiru also revealed that the protest had initially been scheduled for the previous week but was postponed due to heavy security deployment, including roadblocks and patrols.
According to him, Wednesday’s demonstration appeared largely unannounced, suggesting a shift in strategy that may have caught security agencies off guard.
Despite the rain, protesters maintained an orderly but intense presence at the INEC headquarters, with numbers continuing to grow as the demonstration progressed.
