The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of betraying public trust during the country’s 2023 general elections, describing the polls as a profound setback for Nigeria’s democratic development.
The accusation was made during a high-level meeting in Abuja with the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM), where both sides renewed calls for urgent electoral reforms to restore public confidence and ensure credible polls in 2027.
The EU delegation, led by Chief of Mission and Member of the European Parliament Barry Andrews, met with the ADC leadership as part of its post-election review mission.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday, ADC National Secretary Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said the party’s delegation—led by National Chairman Senator David Mark—included senior figures such as Liyel Imoke, Emeka Ihedioha, Babachir Lawal, Bolaji Abdullahi, Ibrahim Mani, and Chile Igbawua.
According to Aregbesola, both parties agreed that the 2023 elections “failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians,” with INEC’s inability to transmit results from polling units to its Result Viewing (IReV) portal in real time undermining confidence in the process.
“The ADC described INEC’s failure to uphold its promise of transparency as a betrayal of public trust and a breach of confidence in the electoral process,” Aregbesola said. “The final results declared were inconsistent with votes cast, frustrating the will of the electorate and diminishing faith in Nigeria’s democracy.”
The party also criticised the judiciary’s handling of post-election disputes, arguing that court verdicts had too often overridden the people’s will.
“The judiciary has, in several cases, usurped the will of the people through controversial judgments,” the ADC stated. “Where there are genuine disputes, the party believes that matters should revert to the electorate through fresh democratic processes rather than judicial declarations.”
To prevent future crises, the ADC proposed far-reaching reforms to the composition of INEC, including an end to the president’s sole authority to appoint the commission’s chairman and national commissioners.
Instead, the party suggested that any political party with at least five members in the National Assembly should have the right to nominate candidates for the electoral body — a move it said would enhance independence and balance.
Senator Mark, leading the ADC delegation, said Nigeria’s democracy would only survive if its electoral institutions were reengineered to ensure transparency and accountability.
“The time has come for Nigeria to rebuild its electoral institutions to truly reflect the people’s will,” the former Senate President said. “Democracy thrives when citizens can trust that their votes count and are protected by impartial institutions.”
The EU delegation — which included Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, and several electoral experts — reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic reforms and pledged to incorporate the feedback into its post-election recommendations.
Other members of the EU team included election experts Ralph-Michael Peters, Eirini-Maria Gounari, and Maros Gabriel, alongside democracy and rule of law adviser Laolu Olawumi and political adviser Osaro Odemwingie.
Concluding, Aregbesola said the ADC would continue engaging with international partners and civil society to push for constitutional and institutional reforms aimed at strengthening fairness, equity, and credibility in Nigeria’s democracy.
“The ADC believes that only a transparent, fair, and participatory electoral system can rescue Nigeria’s democracy from decline,” he said. “The people’s votes must once again be made to count.”
