The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the conduct of the 2025 Anambra governorship election, calling it a rehearsal for electoral rigging ahead of 2027.
According to the ADC, the Anambra election was a cash-fuelled event that turned democracy into a marketplace, casting serious doubts on the credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC accused the sitting governor and his party of widespread vote buying, alleging money was exchanged openly at polling stations while security personnel and election officials remained inactive.
“The African Democratic Congress has followed the recent Anambra governorship election with deep concern. What we witnessed was a cash-soaked spectacle resembling a market rather than an election. This undermines the core of democracy,” Abdullahi said.
The party noted that the election was characterised by blatant cash-for-vote practices that violated the Electoral Act and eroded public trust in the process.
“We wish to make it clear that, as widely reported and shown to Nigerians and the international community, this election was highly monetised. The incumbent and his party were involved in multiple forms of cash-for-votes. At polling units across the state, bundles of naira notes were exchanged openly. This is a flagrant breach of the Electoral Act, established by the Governor himself before the election,” the ADC stated.
The party also criticised the failure of state institutions charged with safeguarding election integrity. Security forces and electoral officials either looked away or were overwhelmed as voters were harassed and bribed.
“Even more concerning was the silence and, in some cases, visible inaction by bodies responsible for enforcing election integrity. Security agents stood by while voters were harassed and influenced, and electoral officials failed to uphold even basic standards,” the party added.
The ADC warned that the failures witnessed in Anambra could set a dangerous precedent for the 2027 elections, emphasising that Nigeria’s democratic reputation is already under international scrutiny.
“If the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) plans to conduct the 2027 general elections in this manner, Nigerians have every reason to worry about the future of our democracy, especially as the world watches closely,” the statement said.
Despite the criticism, the ADC reaffirmed its commitment to a democratic process based on integrity and inclusion rather than vote buying.
“We remain dedicated to building a Nigeria where leadership is earned through honesty, inclusiveness, and service—not through crude cash exchanges,” Abdullahi concluded.
