ADC protesters storm INEC office in Gombe demanding Chairman Amupitan’s resignation over alleged APC ties

ADC protesters in Gombe call for INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan to step down over alleged APC ties as the Supreme Court prepares a landmark leadership ruling.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 30, 2026, 11:25 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Naija News.

Protests Erupt at INEC Gombe Headquarters

The Gombe State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) intensified its national campaign against the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on April 30. Protesters converged on the INEC regional office, wielding banners with pointed messages such as "Amupitan: Resign before the street resigns you." The demonstration is part of a broader wave of peaceful protests across Nigeria organized by the ADC, reflecting growing dissatisfaction with the commission's neutrality as the country prepares for the 2027 electoral cycle.

Allegations of Partisan Bias

The demand for Joash Amupitan’s resignation centers on allegations of a conflict of interest. ADC members and other opposition figures have accused the INEC boss of maintaining clandestine ties with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). These accusations gained momentum following the reported discovery of a social media account on X (formerly Twitter) allegedly linked to Amupitan, which critics claim shows a bias toward the ruling party. The ADC maintains that such ties compromise the integrity of the electoral body and its ability to conduct free and fair elections.

Supreme Court Judgment Day for ADC and PDP

The protests in Gombe occurred simultaneously with significant legal proceedings at the Supreme Court in Abuja. The apex court is scheduled to deliver a final ruling today on the leadership disputes rocking both the ADC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Chieftains like Kenneth Okonkwo have described this as "Judgment Day," framing the legal outcome as a referendum on the "survival of democracy" in Nigeria. The ADC case (SC/CV/180/2026) is expected to determine the party's official leadership structure, which has been fractured by internal power struggles and allegations of external interference.