The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the 2025 Anambra governorship election, characterizing it as a process that undermined the principles of democracy. In a statement released by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC alleged that the ruling party and the incumbent governor engaged in widespread vote buying, compromising the integrity of the election.

The party’s statement noted that the election was heavily monetized, with significant amounts of money changing hands at polling units across the state. This, according to the ADC, transformed the electoral process into a spectacle that resembled a market transaction rather than a democratic exercise. The party criticized the apparent lack of intervention by security agencies and election officials, who were accused of failing to uphold the basic standards of electoral integrity.

The ADC’s critique also highlighted the silence of institutions responsible for ensuring the credibility of the polls. The party warned that if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) repeats this pattern in the 2027 general elections, the future of democracy in Nigeria could be severely compromised. The ADC emphasized its commitment to promoting leadership based on integrity, inclusivity, and service, rather than the exchange of cash for votes.

The Anambra governorship election has drawn attention to the challenges facing Nigeria’s electoral system, including the influence of money in politics and the need for robust institutional mechanisms to protect the integrity of the electoral process. As the country looks ahead to the 2027 general elections, the ADC’s concerns underscore the importance of addressing these challenges to ensure the credibility and legitimacy of the electoral process.

The ADC’s statement serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance and reform in Nigeria’s electoral system, highlighting the importance of free and fair elections in consolidating democracy. With the 2027 general elections on the horizon, the country’s electoral authorities and stakeholders must work to address the systemic flaws that undermined the Anambra governorship election, ensuring that the will of the Nigerian people is accurately reflected in the outcome of future polls.