The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed disappointment with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the conduct of Nigeria’s 2023 general elections. According to the ADC, the election results fell short of the country’s democratic aspirations.
The party’s concerns were raised during a meeting with the European Union Election Observation Mission in Abuja. The meeting, which aimed to review the 2023 elections and identify areas for improvement, was attended by top ADC leaders, including National Chairman Senator David Mark and National Secretary Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. The EU delegation was led by Chief of Mission and Member of the European Parliament, Mr. Barry Andrews.
Both parties emphasized the need for urgent electoral reforms to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process. They noted that the 2023 elections failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians, citing INEC’s inability to uphold its promise of transparency in result collation as a major setback. The ADC specifically criticized INEC’s failure to transmit results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing portal in real-time, describing it as “a betrayal of public trust and a breach of confidence in the electoral process.”
The party also pointed out that the final results declared were inconsistent with the votes cast, which undermined the credibility of the process and diminished public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy. The ADC and the EU Election Observation Mission agreed on the need for corrective measures to safeguard the integrity of future polls, particularly in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
The meeting highlights the importance of collaboration between political parties and international observer missions in promoting electoral reform and ensuring free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria. As the country looks to the future, the implementation of urgent electoral reforms will be crucial in restoring public confidence and upholding the principles of democracy.
