The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has voiced disappointment with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the conduct of Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, saying the results fell short of the country’s democratic aspirations. The party raised its concerns during a meeting with the European Union Election Observation Mission in Abuja, a session intended to review the 2023 elections and identify areas for improvement.
Top ADC leaders, including National Chairman Senator David Mark and National Secretary Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, attended the meeting, which was led by the EU delegation’s Chief of Mission and Member of the European Parliament, Mr. Barry Andrews. Both sides stressed the urgent need for electoral reforms to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process, noting that the 2023 elections failed to meet Nigerians’ expectations.
The ADC specifically criticized INEC’s inability to uphold its promise of transparency in result collation, describing the failure to transmit polling‑unit results to the INEC Result Viewing portal in real time as “a betrayal of public trust and a breach of confidence in the electoral process.” The party also pointed out that the final declared results were inconsistent with the votes cast, undermining the credibility of the process and diminishing confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
The ADC and the EU Election Observation Mission agreed on the necessity of corrective measures to safeguard the integrity of future polls, particularly ahead of the 2027 elections. The meeting highlighted 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, implementing urgent electoral reforms will be crucial for restoring public confidence and upholding democratic principles.
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