ADC Won’t Accept Rigging In 2027, David Mark Declares

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned that it will not accept any attempt to manipulate or rig the 2027 general elections, even as the party pledged to abide by electoral laws and regulations.

National Chairman of the party, Senator David Mark, stated this on Wednesday when the Governing Council of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development visited the ADC national headquarters in Abuja.

The delegation was led by a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, as part of the centre’s engagement with political parties and other stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections.

Mark said the ADC was committed to conducting its political activities within the law and promoting public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.

“We are committed to playing politics in a manner that promotes public confidence in democracy,” he said.

The ADC chairman said the party would comply with the rules and guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as its internal code of conduct contained in its Orange Book.

He, however, stressed that compliance with electoral rules would not prevent the party from resisting any form of electoral malpractice or manipulation targeted at its candidates.

Mark said the ADC remained committed to ensuring that the 2027 elections were conducted in a manner that would allow Nigerians to freely exercise their franchise and have their votes counted.

On his part, Ariwoola urged ADC leaders to ensure that the party’s candidates and members complied with INEC guidelines and refrained from acts capable of undermining peace during the election.

He said the Savannah Centre’s engagement with political parties was aimed at promoting peaceful, free, fair and credible elections ahead of the 2027 polls.

Meanwhile, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council has called on INEC to ensure that all eligible Nigerians who register for the 2027 elections are able to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

In a statement issued by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the council said voter registration figures would have little value if registered voters were unable to obtain their PVCs.

Ologbondiyan also urged INEC to maintain neutrality and transparency throughout the electoral process, warning against actions that could be perceived as favouring any political party.

The council expressed concern over alleged delays and bureaucratic challenges associated with PVC collection in some areas and called on INEC to decentralise collection to the ward level, extend collection hours and deploy technology to notify voters when their cards were ready.

The ADC-PCC further urged INEC to comply strictly with the Constitution and Electoral Act, while assuring Nigerians that it would continue to monitor the commission’s activities ahead of the 2027 elections.

Ologbondiyan urged Nigerians, particularly first-time voters, not to be discouraged by administrative challenges but to participate actively in the electoral process and ensure they collected their PVCs.

He said the ADC remained committed to an electoral process in which every eligible Nigerian would have an equal opportunity to vote and every legitimate vote would count.