Senate minority leader faults ADC’s call for INEC chair’s removal

Abba Moro, Senate minority leader has criticised the African Democratic Congress over its demand for the resignation of Professor Amupitan Joash, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He warning that such calls could heighten political tension ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking on Thursday during an interview on Arise Television, Moro cautioned against sustained protests and political agitation, stressing that demands for the removal of electoral officials are not new and do not necessarily resolve disputes.

“If you are a very good student of Nigerian political history, you will know that that is not the first time that a political party has insisted or demanded that the chairman of the electoral umpire should resign. I don’t think that is the ultimate,” he said.

He questioned the implications of such a move, adding, “Assuming without conceding that the INEC chairman resigns today, who is going to midwife the 2027 election? If you are saying that the INEC chairman is biased, the concomitant implication is that the electoral body is no longer capable of conducting the election.”

Moro also criticised what he described as the “constant raising of the political temperature” through protests, noting that recent demonstrations have largely been driven by the ADC.

“You saw the protest yesterday by members of the ADC. The ADC is just one political party out of the 19 that are participating in the electoral process in Nigeria… If they want to unseat President Tinubu, fine, it’s their legitimate right. But is that how to go about it?” he queried.

The lawmaker further argued that differing interpretations of court rulings, particularly the “status quo ante bellum” directive, should not be grounds for demanding resignation.

His remarks come amid escalating tensions between the ADC and INEC over leadership disputes within the party. The ADC, led by David Mark, has accused the electoral body of bias and called for the immediate removal of its chairman.

The controversy deepened after INEC delisted key ADC figures, including Mark and National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, citing compliance with a court order, a move that has further fuelled political disagreements ahead of the 2027 general elections.