Members and supporters of the Rivers State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC) on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Port Harcourt, demanding the removal of Prof. Joash Amupitan, the chairman of INEC.
They accused Amupitan of masterminding the crisis in ADC, rather than functioning as an unbiased umpire, who should be focused on conducting credible elections.
The protesters, who carried placards with various messages, claimed that the INEC boss is a supporter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who has no business presiding over the country’s elections.
According to the protesters, who also sang solidarity songs at the INEC office, the will of the Nigerian people will not prevail if Amupitan is allowed to continue as INEC boss, citing a tweet he allegedly made as proof of his bias for APC.
The message on some of their placards reads: “Our democracy deserves better” “Liberty is won in the street, not granted by the Villa; “one party, one grave, we refuse to bury our democracy,” “Save Nigeria.”
The protesters vowed to continue staging peaceful protests at the INEC office in Port Harcourt until their demand is met, appealing to the INEC chairman to listen to the people and honourably resign.
Meanwhile, the ADC chairman in the state, Dr Chukwudi Dimkpa, has said that the ADC has started building a strong grassroots-based party structure across the state’s 23 local government areas, wards, and polling units across the state.
Dimkpa said: “We are not just building a party for elections, we are building a movement that reflects the true aspirations of our people.
“Secondly, we are driving mass membership mobilisation, and I am glad to say that Rivers people are already responding positively. Registration is ongoing, and we are leveraging both physical engagement and digital platforms to bring in youths, women, professionals, and grassroots leaders.
“Thirdly, we are committed to issue-based politics. The ADC in Rivers State will stand for economic empowerment, youth inclusion, security and stability, and transparent and accountable governance. We will present a clear alternative, one that prioritises the welfare of the people over political interests.
“Finally, we are working on strategic alliances and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that we bring together credible leaders, technocrats, and community influencers who are genuinely committed to a new Rivers State.”
