2027: David Mark warns against manipulation of elections

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The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Senator David Mark, has warned against the use of state institutions to manipulate the 2027 general elections, insisting that the credibility of the polls must be “non-negotiable”.

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Mark also cautioned against intimidation, violence and other forms of electoral malpractice, saying the ADC expected the next general elections to be transparent, inclusive, peaceful and free from interference.

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The former Senate President spoke on Wednesday in Abuja when he received a delegation of the International Republican Institute, which is in Nigeria as part of its assessment of preparations for the 2027 elections.

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According to Mark, the integrity of the electoral process would be critical to determining whether Nigerians would have confidence in the outcome of the 2027 polls.

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“For us in the ADC, the credibility of the 2027 elections must be non-negotiable. We expect the electoral process to be transparent, inclusive, peaceful and free from manipulation, intimidation and the abuse of state institutions,” Mark said.

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He expressed concern over what he described as the recurring abuse of the electoral process by governments in power as well as non-state actors, warning that such practices could undermine democratic governance and erode public confidence in elections.

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Mark made particular reference to the violence and intimidation reported during the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, which he said should serve as a warning ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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He said reports indicated that no fewer than 30 people were killed during the election, describing the development as reprehensible and condemnable.

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“Elections should not be treated as war or a do-or-die affair. They should be a democratic process through which citizens freely choose their leaders and advance their aspirations for development and a better quality of life,” he said.

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The ADC chairman said his party was committed to an electoral process conducted in a secure environment where voters could freely cast their ballots without fear or intimidation.

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He added that every vote must count and that mandates freely given by the electorate must be respected.

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His comments come as political parties and other stakeholders intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with concerns over electoral violence, the neutrality of state institutions and the credibility of the electoral process already featuring prominently in discussions ahead of the polls.

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Earlier, the IRI delegation said its visit was aimed at assessing the country’s level of preparedness and engaging key stakeholders on issues that could affect the conduct of the elections.

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The African Regional Director of IRI, Jenai Cox, said the organisation was conducting a pre-election assessment mission to evaluate preparations for the 2027 polls.

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He noted that IRI had observed Nigerian elections since 1999 and had also monitored the recent Osun State governorship election, while another delegation visited Ekiti State as part of its assessment.

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He said the current mission would conclude at the end of the week, after which the organisation would make recommendations based on its engagements with political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

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The delegation included former United States Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazier; IRI President, Dan Twining; NDI Deputy Director for West and Central Africa, Sophia Moestrup; IRI West Africa Regional Programme Director, Sentell Barnes; and NDI Country Director for Nigeria, Francis Madugu.

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