2027: “Don’t use State power to manipulate elections” — Mark warns

National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, David Mark, has warned against the use of state institutions to manipulate the 2027 general election, insisting that the credibility of the polls must be “non-negotiable.”

The former Senate President spoke on Wednesday in Abuja when he received a delegation from the International Republican Institute, which is in Nigeria to assess preparations for the 2027 elections.

Mr Mark said the ADC expected the electoral process to be transparent, inclusive and peaceful, without intimidation or abuse of state institutions.

“For us in the ADC, the credibility of the 2027 elections must be non-negotiable. We expect the electoral process to be transparent, inclusive, peaceful and free from manipulation, intimidation and the abuse of state institutions.”

He expressed concern over what he described as the recurring abuse of the electoral process by governments in power and non-state actors, warning that such practices could weaken democratic governance and erode public confidence in elections.

IRI begins 2027 election assessment

The warning followed a meeting between the ADC leadership and a delegation from the International Republican Institute, which is conducting a pre-election assessment of Nigeria’s preparedness for the 2027 polls.

The African Regional Director of IRI, Jenai Cox, said the organisation was engaging political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to identify issues that could affect the conduct of the elections.

Ms Cox said IRI had observed Nigerian elections since 1999 and monitored the recent Osun governorship election. Another delegation also visited Ekiti State as part of the assessment.

She said the current mission would conclude at the end of the week, after which the organisation would make recommendations based on its engagements.

The delegation included former United States Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazier; IRI President, Dan Twining; NDI Deputy Director for West and Central Africa, Sophia Moestrup; IRI West Africa Regional Programme Director, Sentell Barnes; and NDI Country Director for Nigeria, Francis Madugu.

Osun election raises fresh concerns

Mr Mark specifically referenced the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, saying reports of violence and intimidation should serve as a warning ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He claimed that reports indicated that no fewer than 30 people were killed during the election and described the development as reprehensible and condemnable.

“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 said.

The ADC chairman said his party wanted the 2027 election conducted in a secure environment where voters could cast their ballots freely and without fear.

ADC insists every vote must count

Mr Mark maintained that the electorate’s mandate must be respected, stressing that voters should be able to participate without intimidation or interference.

He said, “Every vote must count”, while emphasising that mandates freely given by Nigerians must be honoured.

The comments come as political parties and other stakeholders intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with concerns about electoral violence, the neutrality of state institutions and the credibility of the electoral process increasingly dominating political discussions.

What it means for Nigerians

The ADC’s warning places electoral integrity, voter safety and institutional neutrality at the centre of the 2027 political conversation.

For voters, credible elections mean being able to choose candidates freely, cast ballots without intimidation and have those votes accurately reflected in the final results. The involvement of international election-observation groups also signals continued scrutiny of Nigeria’s preparations ahead of the polls.

The challenge for political parties, security agencies and electoral institutions will be to ensure that political competition does not translate into violence, intimidation or the misuse of public institutions.