The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that it will abide by Nigeria’s electoral laws but will resist any attempt to manipulate or rig the 2027 general elections.
The National Chairman of the party, David Mark, made the declaration on Wednesday in Abuja when he received the governing council of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, known as the Council of the Wise, at the ADC national headquarters.
The delegation was led by a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola (retd.).
Mark said the ADC was committed to conducting itself according to the rules governing the elections and the party’s code of conduct, but would not accept any attempt to deny it a fair contest.
“We hold ourselves to the highest standards of good conduct as a political party. We will play by the rules. But we will not accept rigging or allow ourselves to be rigged out,” he said.
According to him, the ADC is committed to promoting political conduct that strengthens public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
He said the party would comply with the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the provisions of its Orange Book, which outlines the party’s governance principles and code of conduct.
Mark had previously cautioned against the use of government institutions to influence the outcome of the 2027 elections, stressing that the credibility of the electoral process must be protected.
Ariwoola Seeks Commitment to Peaceful Elections
Ariwoola said the Savannah Centre delegation visited the ADC as part of its consultations with political parties and other stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said the centre was seeking commitments from political parties and their candidates to peaceful, free, fair and credible elections.
The former Chief Justice also urged ADC leaders to ensure that their candidates and supporters complied with INEC regulations and avoided actions that could trigger political violence.
He stressed the importance of responsible political campaigns and adherence to democratic principles as the country prepares for the elections.
The Council of the Wise, chaired by Ariwoola, was reconstituted in June with a mandate to promote peaceful, free and credible elections and engage political parties, institutions and other stakeholders.
Its engagements have included meetings with presidential candidates and political actors, during which the council has advocated compliance with electoral laws, issue-based campaigns and the prevention of violence and hate speech.
The delegation to the ADC included members of the Council of the Wise, among them Professors Abdullahi Shehu and Azeez Dankano, the Centre’s Executive Director, Ambassador Sani Bala, Mr Tunji Lardner and Ambassador Godswill Ighali.
The Savannah Centre had earlier disclosed plans by the Council of the Wise to engage President Bola Tinubu, INEC leadership, political parties, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and other stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections.
