Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), David Mark, factional national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano, on Wednesday led members of the party in a protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
The demonstration, tagged, “Save democracy”, drew party members, supporters, and civil society actors who gathered at the electoral commission’s headquarters to demand the protection of democratic institutions and electoral integrity.
In a statement shared after the protest, Obi said the demonstration was a peaceful effort aimed at defending Nigeria’s democracy and drawing attention to what he described as growing threats to opposition voices.
“Today, I joined fellow Nigerians, leaders, and members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by National Chairman Sen. David Mark to participate in a peaceful ‘Save Democracy’ protest,” Obi said.
The former presidential candidate said the protest was also a moment to reflect on the state of the country’s democratic system, warning against actions capable of weakening institutions.
“This event was not just an effort to protect our democracy; it was also a moment of reflection on how far we have fallen as a nation,” he said.
Obi added that Nigerians must remain vigilant against what he described as attempts to silence opposition and weaken democratic space.
“We must resist the suffocation of our democracy by those who once claimed to have sacrificed to defend it, but are now doing everything possible to undermine it and silence opposition,” he said.
He further warned that history would judge harshly those who abandon democratic principles for political power.
“History will not be kind to those who traded the struggle for democracy for the comfort of power. We will not remain silent, we will not be intimidated, and we will not surrender the future of this nation,” he added.
Obi said the protest underscored the determination of opposition leaders and supporters to defend democratic values and uphold the will of voters.
“The will of the people must prevail—stronger, louder, and impossible to suppress,” he said.
The protest featured placards bearing messages calling for electoral transparency, institutional independence, and protection of democratic rights, while security personnel monitored the gathering to ensure order.
