The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has called on political actors, government institutions, and all stakeholders to stop treating elections as a war or a do-or-die affair, insisting that the credibility of the 2027 general elections must remain non-negotiable.
Senator Mark made the call on Wednesday in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the International Republican Institute (IRI) on a pre-election assessment mission to Nigeria. The ADC leader stressed the need for transparent, inclusive, peaceful, and credible elections free from manipulation, intimidation, and the abuse of state institutions.
“Elections should not be treated as war or a do-or-die affair. They should be a democratic process through which citizens freely choose their leaders and advance their aspirations for development and a better quality of life,” Mark stated.
He expressed deep concern over the growing abuse of the electoral process by governments in power and, increasingly, by non-state actors. The former Senate President particularly condemned the violence and intimidation reported during the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, in which no fewer than 30 people were said to have lost their lives.
Mark emphasised that the ADC is not seeking any special favour from electoral authorities or other stakeholders. Instead, the party is demanding a level playing field and an electoral process that truly reflects the genuine will of the Nigerian people.
“We are interested in free, fair and credible elections, and we will do whatever we can to ensure that the process meets international standards,” he said. “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.”
The ADC National Chairman welcomed the engagement with the IRI, noting that independent assessments by credible international organisations can help identify weaknesses in the electoral system and strengthen public confidence ahead of the 2027 polls.
Responding, Jenai Cox, African Regional Director of the IRI, explained that the institute is in Nigeria to assess preparations for the 2027 general elections and to hear directly from stakeholders about the challenges ahead. She noted that members of the mission had recently observed the off-cycle governorship election in Osun State and also visited Ekiti.
The IRI delegation was led by its President, Dan Twining, and included several senior officials and election analysts. The National Democratic Institute (NDI) was also represented.
The African Democratic Congress reaffirmed its commitment to working with domestic and international partners to promote democratic values and ensure that Nigerians are able to choose their leaders freely, peacefully, and without fear.