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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed disappointment over the conduct of the 2023 general elections, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of eroding public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The party described the outcome of the polls as a major blow to the nation’s democratic development, insisting that urgent reforms are needed to restore citizens’ faith in future elections.
The position was made known during a meeting between ADC leaders and a delegation of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) in Abuja. The meeting, led by Mr. Barry Andrews, a Member of the European Parliament and Chief of Mission, focused on reviewing the 2023 elections and identifying reforms that would ensure credible polls in 2027.
In a statement released on Saturday by the ADC National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the party lamented that INEC’s inability to transmit results directly from polling units to its Result Viewing (IReV) portal “was a clear breach of public confidence and a setback for transparency.”
The ADC delegation to the meeting was led by the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and included prominent figures such as Liyel Imoke, Emeka Ihedioha, Babachir Lawal, Bolaji Abdullahi, Ibrahim Mani, and Chile Igbawua.
According to the statement, both parties agreed that the 2023 elections did not meet public expectations. The ADC noted that discrepancies between votes cast and final figures announced by INEC raised serious concerns about credibility and accountability in the electoral process.
“The inability of the commission to uphold its promise of real-time transmission of results from polling units undermined the integrity of the entire exercise,” the statement read.
The party urged the electoral body and relevant authorities to embark on comprehensive reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections to prevent a repeat of the flaws witnessed in 2023.
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