The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said the credibility of the 2027 general elections is non-negotiable.

ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, who spoke on Wednesday when the party hosted a delegation from the International Republican Institute (IRI), said the party expects the 2027 electoral process to be transparent, inclusive, peaceful and free from manipulation, intimidation and the abuse of state institutions.

Mark expressed concern at what he described as “the abuse of the electoral process by governments in power and, increasingly, by non-state actors.”

He condemned the violence and intimidation witnessed during the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, stating that no fewer than 30 people reportedly lost their lives.

The former President of the Senate said 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,” he added.

He told the delegation that ADC is in support of IRI’s engagements with political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders, and was prepared to share its experiences and concerns with the team.

“As a political party, we want to contest elections in a secure environment that guarantees free, fair, transparent and credible elections, where every vote counts and every legitimate mandate is respected.

“We believe that an independent and credible assessment by organisations such as IRI can make a significant contribution to identifying the challenges ahead and strengthening confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process,” Senator Mark stated.

Leader of the delegation, Jenai Cox, who is African Regional Director for IRI, told the ADC that the objective of the pre-election assessment mission is to assess the preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general election.

The regional director disclosed that some members of the team were in Osun for the off-cycle election, “and had a small delegation in Ekiti as well.”

She noted that IRI has been observing elections in Nigeria since 1999, “and we have done them jointly with the National Democratic Institute.”

Cox announced that the pre-election assessment mission would end this week, and hopes that the delegation would make some recommendations on things witnessed during the Ekiti and Osun off-cycle elections, as well as the meetings with a variety of stakeholders.

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