The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said it will follow all electoral rules but will not accept any attempt to rig it out of the 2027 general elections.
The party’s National Chairman, 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.
The Savannah Centre is engaging political parties and other stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections as part of efforts to promote peaceful, free and credible elections.
Mark said the ADC was committed to conducting its activities within the law and strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
He said, “We are committed to playing politics in a manner that promotes public confidence in democracy.”
The ADC chairman said the party would obey the rules of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its own code of conduct, as contained in its Orange Book.
However, he said following electoral rules did not mean the party would accept electoral malpractice or attempts to manipulate the process against it.
Ariwoola said the visit was part of the Savannah Centre’s engagement with political parties and political leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.
He urged ADC leaders to encourage their candidates and members to obey INEC rules and avoid political violence.
The Savannah Centre delegation included Professors Abdullahi Shehu and Azeez Musa Dankano, Executive Director Ambassador Sani Bala, Tunji Lardner and Ambassador Godswill Ighali, among others.
Meanwhile, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has urged INEC to ensure that eligible voters who register for the 2027 elections are able to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The council said voter registration figures would have little meaning if registered voters could not collect their PVCs.
In a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the council also urged INEC to remain neutral and transparent throughout the electoral process.
Ologbondiyan said INEC should not take any action that could give an advantage to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said the commission should focus not only on voter registration but also on making sure registered voters could easily collect their PVCs.
The council expressed concern over alleged delays and bureaucratic problems at PVC collection centres, especially in areas it described as opposition strongholds.
It called on INEC to move PVC collection to the ward level, extend collection hours and use technology to inform voters when their cards are ready.
Ologbondiyan also urged INEC to comply with the Constitution and Electoral Act throughout the election process.
He said the ADC-PCC would continue to monitor INEC’s activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
The council urged Nigerians, especially first time voters, not to be discouraged by administrative challenges but to participate in the electoral process and collect their PVCs.
Ologbondiyan said the ADC remained committed to an election where all eligible Nigerians would have equal opportunities to vote and where legitimate votes would be counted.
