The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to demand a transparent and credible election from the Nigerian Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mark made the call on Thursday in Abuja while receiving an ECOWAS pre-election fact-finding mission to Nigeria ahead of the January 2027 polls.
He urged the regional body to raise the alarm over any action capable of undermining the credibility of the elections and plunging Nigeria into a political crisis.
“The best way to prevent conflict, especially in relation to elections, is to ensure that it is free, fair and transparent,” the ADC chairman said.
Mark expressed concerns over INEC’s preparedness and commitment to conducting credible elections, accusing the government of attempting to capture state institutions, including the judiciary and the electoral commission.
The opposition party chairman also raised concerns over what he described as threats of violence emanating from the ruling party, warning that the conduct of the elections would have far-reaching implications for regional stability.
“We in the ADC have committed ourselves to the highest standards of peaceful conduct before, during and after the elections. But we need ECOWAS to join us in insisting on a credible election now,” he said.
He added, “You must tell the Federal Government and INEC that they must not do anything that could plunge Nigeria into needless crisis. This must form part of your early warning signals.”
Earlier, the Head of the ECOWAS mission and former Vice President of Sierra Leone, Victor Bockarie Foh, said the delegation was in Nigeria to assess preparations for the elections and the political atmosphere ahead of the polls.
Foh promised to convey the ADC’s concerns, alongside those of other stakeholders, to the regional body, stressing that peace and stability in Nigeria were critical to the wider West African region.
Other members of the delegation included ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Francess Piage Alghali; Julius Fofanah Sandy, representing the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives’ Committee; and Segrine Mamadou, Head of the Electoral Assistance Division.