The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of betraying public trust in the conduct of Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, saying the outcome represented a major setback to the country’s democratic aspirations.
The ADC made the accusation during a high-level meeting with the European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission in Abuja, where both parties renewed calls for urgent electoral reforms to restore public confidence and ensure free, fair, and credible polls in 2027.
The EU delegation, led by Chief of Mission and Member of the European Parliament, Mr Barry Andrews, met with the ADC leadership as part of its review of the 2023 elections.
The meeting, according to the party, was aimed at identifying flaws and recommending corrective measures that would safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s future polls.
In a statement shared via X on Saturday by ADC National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the party revealed that its delegation to the meeting was led by National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and included top leaders such as Liyel Imoke, Emeka Ihedioha, Babachir Lawal, Bolaji Abdullahi, Ibrahim Mani, and Chile Igbawua.
Aregbesola said both parties reached a common understanding that the 2023 elections failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians, noting that INEC’s inability to uphold its promise of transparency in result collation deeply undermined the credibility of the process.
According to the statement, the ADC described INEC’s failure to transmit results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing portal in real time as “a betrayal of public trust and a breach of confidence in the electoral process.”
“The party noted that the final results declared were inconsistent with the votes cast, which frustrated the will of the electorate and diminished public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy,” Aregbesola wrote.
The ADC also faulted the judiciary’s handling of post-election disputes, insisting that courts should not be allowed to override the people’s right to freely choose their leaders.
It maintained that judicial interventions in electoral outcomes had eroded faith in the democratic process and further alienated citizens from governance.
“The judiciary has, in several cases, usurped the will of the people through controversial judgments. Where there are genuine disputes, the party believes that the matter should revert to the electorate through a fresh democratic process rather than judicial declarations,” the statement added.
To prevent future controversies, the ADC proposed far-reaching reforms to the structure and composition of the electoral body.
It urged that the appointment of the INEC Chairman and National Commissioners should no longer be vested solely in the President.
Instead, the party suggested that political parties with at least five members in the National Assembly be allowed to nominate candidates to the electoral commission, in order to enhance independence and balance.
Senator Mark, who led the ADC delegation, said Nigeria’s electoral process required deep institutional reform to eliminate partisanship and restore public faith in elections.
He argued that the nation’s democratic progress could only be sustained through a transparent, accountable, and people-centred electoral system.
“The time has come for Nigeria to reengineer its electoral institutions to truly reflect the people’s will. Democracy thrives when citizens can trust that their votes count and are protected by impartial institutions,” the former Senate President was quoted as saying.
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