By Opeyemi Adelakun
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that it will not rely solely on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to safeguard its mandate in the 2027 general election, insisting that the party has put measures in place to protect every vote cast for its candidates.
The party said its resolve was informed by its experience in the 2023 general election, stressing that while some officials within INEC remain committed to credible elections, the commission should not expect political parties to depend on trust alone.
ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this on Wednesday in Ilorin while addressing journalists during a sensitisation walk organised to mobilise residents of the Kwara State capital ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to him, the party is determined to ensure that votes cast by Nigerians are protected from the polling units through the entire electoral process.
“We know what INEC is capable of. We trusted the commission during the 2023 general election, but the outcome left us disappointed. We will not make the same mistake again by relying solely on trust,” Abdullahi said.
He maintained that the ADC would deploy its own strategy to defend its electoral mandate nationwide, although he declined to disclose the details.
“We are not going to tell you, but that is what we are going to do if we must win this election,” he stated.
Abdullahi expressed confidence that the party could unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, arguing that protecting votes would be crucial regardless of how the election is conducted.
The ADC spokesman, however, acknowledged that there are officials within the electoral commission who remain committed to conducting credible elections, but insisted that the party would not leave the protection of its votes entirely in the hands of the electoral umpire.
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