ADC accuses APC of planning to sponsor protest against David Mark

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is planning to sponsor a public protest in Abuja aimed specifically at discrediting its leadership.

Its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made this known in a statement titled “APC’s Desperate Plan Uncovered,” and shared on X on Wednesday.

The party claimed that the protest is part of a broader plot to destabilise the ADC following recent political developments.

According to the statement, the move followed a failed attempt to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into taking “illegal action” against the party.

“Yesterday, we disclosed a sinister plot by agents of the ruling APC government to pressure INEC into taking illegal action to destabilise our party, following the milestone movement of H.E. Rabiu Kwankwaso to the ADC.

“After meeting a brick wall with INEC, they have now changed tactics, but the objectives remain the same,” the statement read.

The ADC further claimed that a protest scheduled for Thursday, April 2, in Abuja, is being organised with the backing of a government official.

“Information reaching us this morning is that a public protest is being planned for tomorrow… sponsored by a particularly notorious minister.

“Their expectation is that a protest will give oxygen to a case that is already suffocating in the courts under the weight of its own illegality,” it said.

According to the party, the protest would involve a “paid crowd” posing as aggrieved members demanding the removal of Senator David Mark from the party’s leadership.

“The plan is simple: a paid crowd… will take to the streets demanding ‘David Mark Must Go’. This, they hope, will create ‘public pressure’ on the INEC Chairman to magically upgrade and recognise an individual who resigned his position… to the position of National Chairman of a party he no longer belongs to,” the statement added.

The ADC described the alleged move as part of a wider attempt by the APC to “hijack” its leadership, warning that it reflects growing desperation.

“They are not just afraid of our momentum. They are afraid of what happens when the Nigerian people start paying attention and begin to believe that change is possible,” it stated.

The party, however, said it would remain law-abiding while resisting any unlawful interference.

“If they are not acting on his orders, President Bola Tinubu should rein in his enforcers before it is too late,” the statement added.