The African Democratic Congress (ADC) youth have said they will protest at the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Lagos, Ogun, and Jigawa states as part of the #AmupitanMustGo campaign.

Balarabe Rufai, the party’s National Youth Leader, posted this on 𝕏 on Monday, along with flyers for “Operation Occupy INEC.”

He said that the Lagos protest would start at 8 a.m. at Yaba College of Technology and the Ogun protest would start at 11 a.m. at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited office in Abeokuta.

At the time this report was written, it was not clear if the protest had started at the INEC office in Lagos.

Rufai said that the protests were meant to demand accountability and respect for the law.

He said, “The Lagos ADC Youth Wing has taken a strong and peaceful stand by taking over INEC to send a clear message: the law must be followed, due process must be followed, Amupitan must step down right away, and the leadership led by Senator David Mark must be restored right away.

“This is a call for responsibility, not disorder.”

The youth leader made it clear that the protest was a reaction to what they saw as unfairness.

“When institutions don’t act fairly, it’s the duty of citizens to respond with courage and clarity. “The demand is simple: restore integrity or step aside,” Rufai said.

The planned protests come after a protest in Abuja on April 8 by important opposition leaders, such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ADC National Chairman David Mark, and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi.

Peter Obi, Rauf Aregbesola, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Dino Melaye were also at the protest in Abuja.

The protests are connected to INEC’s decision on April 1 to stop recognizing factions within the ADC. This came after a Court of Appeal ruling told the parties to keep things the way they are in the leadership dispute.

People who support the ADC have accused the election body of being biased and are calling for the resignation of Joash Amupitan, the chairman of INEC.

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According to reports, the demonstrators assembled at the gate of the National Assembly but then attempted to enter the complex by force, which prompted the police to use tear gas canisters on them.

There was chaos at the National Assembly gate after the altercation as a number of the demonstrators, including ladies, rushed for their lives.

An average-aged woman was claimed to have fainted from the gas she inhaled during the ensuing panic.

Details will be provided later.

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In protest of the Federal Capital Territory’s (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike’s visit to the region, angry Ijaw women from Kalabari trashed billboards featuring his picture on Saturday.
Ijaw stakeholders, using the platform of NEW Associates, prepared for a lavish gathering in Wike’s honor by erecting the enormous billboards at the intersection going to Abalama.
Local women and Kalabari traditional leaders, however, fiercely opposed the gathering since they had previously objected to an Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Eastern Zone conference that was planned for the same location.
To prevent Wike from entering the town, hundreds of women wearing black clothing and white scarves swarmed the roads leading to Abalama early on Saturday morning.

While shouting protest slogans, the women blocked the highways and destroyed billboards featuring Wike’s pictures. They hoisted signs that said, “Kalabari, take your stand now!” What do you desire in Kalabari land, Wike?

Wike’s convoy was able to enter the town after the security personnel who were with the FCT Minister were compelled to disperse the demonstrators and remove the barriers.

Protests aside, the big reception went according to schedule. According to Enemi Alabo George, the chairman of the event’s publicity committee, Wike is a “friend of the Kalabari kingdom,” and the chiefs, leaders, women, and young people in the area are thrilled about his presence.

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George explained that the purpose of the occasion was to honor the former governor for his achievements to the Kalabari Kingdom by holding a magnificent civic banquet and a Thanksgiving service.

The visit to Kalabari by Wike coincides with increased political tensions between the Ijaw-descent governor, Siminalayi Fubara. There are now worries about the stability of the political environment in Rivers State due to the two leaders’ prolonged disagreement.

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Women for Change Vanguard protesters brought the ongoing dispute between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Kogi legislator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the UN headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

With banners that read, “The burden of proof lies with the accuser,” and “We believe in actual victims of sexual harassment, not people who weaponize it,” the demonstrators chanted solidarity songs and urged Akpoti-Uduaghan to present proof of the alleged sexual harassment she had accused Akpabio of.

The demonstration takes place just twenty-four hours after the senator from Kogi Central accused Akpabio and others of disrespect for her six-month unpaid Senate ban.

Recall that Akpoti-Uduaghan had taken her disagreement with Akpabio to a higher level and had made her case to the International Parliamentary Union, a United Nations organization, claiming political victimization.

After a heated argument with Senate leadership about a new seating arrangement that she said was intended to discredit her, she was suspended on March 6.

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When Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed on national television that Akpabio was punishing her for turning down his purported sexual approaches, tensions increased.

Speaking to the United Nations representatives in Abuja, protest leader Irene Umoh said that the women’s organization made the decision to petition the UN on Friday in response to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s attempts to play the victim on the global scene.

Umoh also instructed the international organization to request that the suspended lawmaker present verifiable proof of the alleged sexual harassment to the globe.

She stated, “Senator Natasha has already leveled grave accusations against a well-known individual. Such acts run the risk of compromising the fundamental tenets of our campaign against sexual abuse and turning into a weapon she uses against powerful men.

As mothers and Women for Change Vanguard members, we understand the seriousness of false charges. In addition to hurting the accused, such allegations frequently minimize the suffering of real survivors.

We urge Senator Natasha to back up her allegations against Senator Godswill Akpabio with specific examples. We shall remain steadfast in our resolve to see that justice is done, should solid proof be offered.

She claims that many women will begin using sexual harassment as a weapon against defenseless males if all claims of sexual harassment against the other gender are accepted without solid proof.

“Today’s nonviolent demonstration aims to hold both sides accountable in addition to calling for justice. While Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan must provide proof that she was sexually abused, Senator Akpabio must be given the chance to cleanse his name.

“We must not be seen as weak because we are women. Rather, we need to be resilient and strong, both at work and outside of it,” she said.

Adwoa Kufuor, the UN Senior Human Rights Advisor, pledged to forward the women’s petition to the appropriate department inside the organization.

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