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• ADC demands transparent, peaceful polls
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, yesterday demanded an electoral process in the 2027 general election in which every vote counts and every legitimate mandate is respected.
Mark made the demand in Abuja when he received a Pre-Election Assessment Mission from the International Republican Institute (IRI).
He said the credibility of the 2027 elections must be non-negotiable, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), governments and other stakeholders to ensure a transparent, inclusive and peaceful process free from manipulation, intimidation and abuse of state institutions.
The ADC chairman said the party was concerned about what he described as the alleged abuse of the electoral process by governments in power and non-state actors ahead of the polls.
He cited the violence and intimidation reported during the August 15 Osun State governorship election, describing them as reprehensible and condemnable.
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“For us in the ADC, the credibility of the 2027 elections must be non-negotiable. We expect the electoral process to be transparent, inclusive, peaceful and free from manipulation, intimidation and the abuse of state institutions.”
Mark said elections should not be treated as a “war or do-or-die affair”, but as a democratic process through which citizens freely choose their leaders.
He said the ADC wanted to contest the 2027 election in an environment that guaranteed free, fair and credible polls and respected the outcome of voters’ choices.
Mark commended IRI for its continued engagement with Nigeria’s democratic process since the return to civil rule in 1999.
He said the institute’s pre-election assessment could help identify challenges ahead of the 2027 polls and strengthen confidence in the electoral process.
The ADC leader assured the delegation that the party was prepared to share its experiences and concerns with the assessment team as part of efforts to improve the credibility of the elections.
