Leaders and supporters of the African Democratic Congress marched in protest to the Independent National Electoral Commission office in Abuja to protest the derecognition of the party’s leaders.

This came hours after former presidential candidate Peter Obi rallied Nigerians on Wednesday to support the opposition’s fight against attempts to make Nigeria a one-party state.

ADC leaders, including Atiku Abubakar, Mr Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and others, were seen with other protesters gathered at the INEC office in Maitama, Abuja.

The protesters, who held placards with various inscriptions, were seen chanting ‘Tinubu Must Go’.

The protest followed INEC’s decision to remove Messrs Mark and Aregbesola as leaders of the ADC, citing a Court of Appeal judgment.

The ruling party declared that heaven would not fall if INEC barred ADC from participating in the 2027 elections.

The opposition party alleged on Monday that INEC plotted to stop the ADC from fielding candidates in the 2027 elections, accusing President Bola Tinubu of plotting to contest the presidential election unchallenged.

The party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the allegation was based on documentary evidence, including certified INEC records, attendance logs, monitoring reports, and excerpts from the commission’s affidavit.

Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress insisted the crisis in ADC was self-inflicted, accusing ADC of being desperate for power.