Nigeria’s ambassador to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has criticized the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing it as a “professional group of jumpers” and insisting the party should accept responsibility for its deregistration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Omokri specifically faulted the faction of the party led by David Mark, saying it was responsible for the current crisis and should not shift blame to others.

In a statement titled “INEC De-registration: ADC Professional Party Jumpers Have Only Themselves to Blame,” Omokri said he expected the group to clearly explain its interpretation of the Court of Appeal ruling delivered on March 12, 2026, but was disappointed by its response.

“I read the statement from the spokesperson of the David Mark group in the African Democratic Congress who rejected how INEC interpreted the March 12, 2026, Court of Appeal ruling, and I was expecting them to share their own understanding of that judgment.

“But nothing came up, which doesn’t make sense. The David Mark group from the ADC clearly caused this disaster on their own,” he said.

He advised the faction to abide by the court’s decision if it intends to challenge the ruling, stressing that respect for the law is essential.

“If they chose to appeal the decision, the David Mark group should follow the Court of Appeals’ ruling, since they are supposed to obey the law,” he added.

Omokri also warned against attempts to incite public sentiment against INEC, describing such actions as dangerous.

“Trying to stir up public anger against INEC and weaken the election authorities is a risky and desperate action by the David Mark group,” he said.

He further argued that the party’s challenges were predictable, attributing them to what he described as politically motivated interests rather than democratic ideals.

“Their shift into the ADC was driven by business interests rather than by a natural sense of democracy,” he stated.

Omokri dismissed claims that INEC was being controlled by the ruling All Progressives Congress, urging the faction to take responsibility for its decisions.

“Instead of blaming INEC or accusing the All Progressives Congress of controlling the INEC through tele guidance, the David Mark group from the ADC should understand that they bought a faulty product.

“They should either fix the problems with what they bought or find a different political party. With elections just ten months away, I don’t think they have enough time to start a new party from scratch,” he said.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has clarified his controversial comments about Seun Okinbaloye, stating that his remarks were not meant to be taken literally.

Wike had earlier said he would have “broken his TV screen and shot” Okinbaloye over the journalist’s comments that a one-party system would undermine democracy in Nigeria, sparking widespread backlash. Amnesty International condemned the statement, describing it as “reckless and violent language.”

However, in a statement issued on Saturday by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, the minister said his words were exaggerated and taken out of context.

“The minister never meant that he would shoot Seun Okinbaloye. They even spoke on the phone today, and he (Okinbaloye) understood what the minister meant,” Olayinka said.

He explained that Wike’s reaction stemmed from disappointment, noting that the minister believed Okinbaloye, whom he holds in high regard, had “descended into the political arena by speaking as an interested party instead of an interviewer.”

According to the statement, the comment was made in a hyperbolic context and was intended as an expression of frustration rather than a real threat.

“The statement made by the minister was in a hyperbolic context, which was clearly without intent. It was primarily using exaggeration to make a point,” he said.

Olayinka added that Wike had already clarified his position during the live television program, where journalists present reportedly laughed after his explanation.

“Even after the minister made the clarifications on the live television program… all the journalists who were interviewing him just laughed,” the statement noted.

He further stressed that Wike had explicitly stated on air that he did not mean he would “carry a gun and shoot the television anchor,” warning against misinterpreting the comment.

“The public is therefore urged to discontinue the use of the comment as an instrument of blackmail and propaganda by those whose intent is to misrepresent facts for their political gains,” Olayinka added.