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By Godswill Michael
A former presidential aide and Nigeria ambassador designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard what he described as “anti-democratic elements,” urging the electoral body not to be distracted by the actions of a faction within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a post shared on his X handle on Saturday, Omokri criticised a faction of the ADC allegedly led by David Mark, describing its actions as inconsequential to Nigeria’s democratic process.
“INEC Should Not Lose Sleep Over A Disgruntled Career Coup Plotter and Anti-Democratic Element,” Omokri wrote.
He further Mark’s political stance, stating: “You can imagine David Mark, a former career coup plotter, who, according to Professor Omo Omoruyi, allegedly threatened to kill Chief MKO Abiola and said, ‘I will shoot Chief Abiola the day NEC pronounces him the elected President!’, now accusing President Tinubu of being like Abacha?”
Omokri also referenced Nigeria’s political history, adding: “Was it not David Mark and Abacha that planned the coup that ousted Ernest Shonekan on November 17, 1993?”
The former aide criticised the faction’s reported plan to petition foreign governments against INEC, describing such moves as futile.
“Reporting the Independent National Electoral Commission to foreign governments, as the factional ADC just announced they plan to do, is a waste of time and effort. The David Mark faction of the African Democratic Congress should understand that Nigeria is a sovereign nation. We are not governed from foreign capitals,” he said.
He stressed that INEC’s allegiance should remain solely to the Nigerian constitution, noting: “And the Independent National Electoral Commission should not be beholden to a disgruntled former coup plotter. Their only loyalty is to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Omokri also advised the aggrieved faction to seek legal redress rather than resorting to external complaints.
“David Mark and his fellow power-hungry discontents in the ADC should stop chasing shadows. Go to court and resolve your factional issues. Thankfully, the Court of Appeals has granted your faction an accelerated hearing. Take advantage of it to prove your case,” he said.
He questioned their reluctance to pursue judicial resolution, asking: “That their faction of the ADC does not want to do that speaks volumes. Why are they afraid of the court?”
The controversy comes amid ongoing leadership disputes within the African Democratic Congress, which has seen multiple factions laying claim to the party’s structure.
INEC, the country’s electoral umpire, has maintained its position of recognising only duly constituted party leaderships in line with its regulations and Nigeria’s electoral laws. The commission has not accorded recognition to the faction reportedly led by David Mark, citing unresolved internal disputes within the party.