News
2027: Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso Other Protesters Storm INEC HQ
A large crowd of protesters flooded the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Wednesday, defying steady rain to demand electoral accountability as tensions build ahead of the 2027 elections.
What began as a protest linked to a faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) quickly grew into something bigger. People from different political parties and groups joined in, turning it into a broad coalition rally focused on defending democracy and questioning the credibility of the electoral system.
Muyideen Bashiru, a protester, said the turnout showed the concerns cut across party lines, with participants travelling in from different parts of the country.
“We’re currently heading towards the INEC office. You can see the crowd; there are hundreds, possibly thousands of people gathered,” Bashiru said.
Placard held by protesters.
ADC chieftain, Atiku Abubarka had mentioned on his Twitter Account that : Myself and other leaders of the ADC are peacefully protesting against the partisanship of the electoral umpire. Our patriotic stance is aimed at safeguarding our democracy and preventing the enthronement of a dictatorship. -AA pic.twitter.com/tYbU6v6a7Q
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) April 8, 2026
Among those present were David Mark, former Senate President; Rauf Aregbesola, former Governor of Osun State and ex-Minister of Interior; Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate; Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement; and Dino Melaye, former Senator representing Kogi West, alongside other political figures.
File Photo: Rotimi Amaechi at the protest. Photo credit: ADC
The protesters had earlier gathered at David Mark’s residence, where a morning service was held to mark his 78th birthday, before moving out in a coordinated march.
“As you can see, it’s massive, this is not just about the ADC, there are members of other political parties here as well,” he said.
Some protesters. Photo credit: ADC
From Apo Legislative Quarters, the crowd surged towards the INEC office, swelling along the way and taking over major roads in the Federal Capital Territory.
“You’ll recall that this protest was initially planned for last week but was cancelled,” Bashiru said.
File Photo: Rotimi Amaechi and Dino Melaye at the protest.
The earlier plan was shelved after heavy security deployment, including roadblocks and patrol vehicles. But Wednesday’s protest appeared largely unannounced, suggesting a shift in approach that may have caught authorities off guard.
“But today feels different, it seems spontaneous, almost as if security agencies were caught off guard,” he said.
Despite the rain, the crowd kept growing at the INEC office, with an atmosphere that was intense but orderly.
“You can see the crowd behind me; it’s still growing, and the energy is intense,” Bashiru said.
Former Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has shared an amusing anecdote about the unique injury treatment preferred by his Nigerian ex-teammates, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi.
Iheanacho and Ndidi became integral members of the Foxes squad after joining in 2017, playing a crucial role in the club’s historic 2021 FA Cup victory.
The duo shared a strong bond with Vardy during their time at the King Power Stadium, often engaging in light-hearted banter with their teammates.
Vardy, a Leicester City legend after 13 years with the club, departed last summer for Serie A side Cremonese. Iheanacho and Ndidi have also since moved on from the Foxes.
Speaking on a recent podcast, Vardy recounted how the Super Eagles stars had a peculiar remedy for minor injuries.
He explained that Iheanacho and Ndidi would insist on using a special “juju cream” brought back from Nigeria, refusing any other oils or balms offered by the club’s medical staff.
“They used to get injured, just little knocks, then they’d go back to Nigeria for one day literally, come back, and then they’ve got a nice big tub of juju cream,” Vardy said.
“That was the only thing that the masseuses were allowed to massage on the injured areas. They used to tell us that they used to get it from a Nigerian witch doctor.”
While Vardy’s story adds a humorous, if slightly controversial, layer to the players’ time at the club, the “juju cream” was likely part of a running joke.
Ndidi later clarified on social media that the substance was simply local shea butter, known as ‘ori’ in Nigeria.
Some aspirants loyal to Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who failed to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) tickets in the recently concluded National Assembly primaries, have approached the court to challenge the outcome of the exercise.
The aggrieved aspirants are challenging the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the results of the primaries and the list of candidates submitted by the party to the electoral body.
Report quoted sources within the party as saying the aspirants decided to seek judicial redress after expressing dissatisfaction with the outcome of the primaries.
The aspirants have reportedly engaged the services of the law firm of Remi Olatubora, SAN, to challenge the outcome of the exercise, the report also mentioned.
Those involved include Gbenga Elegbeleye (Ondo North Senatorial District), Dr Taiwo Fasoranti (Ondo Central Senatorial District), Leke Akingboye (Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency), Rasaq Obe (Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency), Kayode Ijalana (Owo/Ose Federal Constituency), Oyerinmade Matthew (Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency), and Olumuyiwa Daramola (Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency).
The legal action has reportedly generated concerns among some party stakeholders, who fear it could affect the APC’s preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has slammed the Federal Government over its gifts of houses to judges.
Speaking at the Housing TV Africa on Thursday, Falana demanded the provision of the law that stipulated such a gesture.
He charged the Federal Government to also build houses for university professors and other civil and public servants, noting that what is good for the goose is equally good for the gander.
“”We have got to a stage in the country where we have to challenge the special privileges given to the rich and top public officers in the country.
“I was very sad when I saw that the Federal Government was handing over the keys of houses to judges, and I asked myself, ‘Under what law are we operating?’ Because it’s discriminatory and illegal.
“You treat everyone equally in our country. So you can’t take out judges. Judges are entitled to accommodation by the way. They must live comfortably and we’ll secured.
“But, other citizens must be equally provided for. If you don’t do it, you can be challenged, and that is going to happen very soon because what is good for the goose is good for the gander,” he said.
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