2027: ADC Cautions INEC Against Working For APC

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against tilting the electoral process in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Council said the credibility of the 2027 general elections will depend largely on the Commission’s neutrality and transparency.

It also urged INEC to ensure that eligible Nigerians who register as voters are able to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), warning that registration figures would be meaningless without corresponding PVC collection.

The position was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director, Media and Publicity of the ADC-PCC, Kola Ologbondiyan, in reaction to INEC’s world press conference held on Tuesday.

Ologbondiyan said the ADC presidential candidate remains prepared to participate in the 2027 election, provided INEC guarantees an election that is free, fair, credible and devoid of violence or manipulation.

He said the Commission must demonstrate its independence by resisting any attempt by the ruling party to influence its decisions or operations.

According to him, publishing impressive voter registration figures would serve little purpose if registered voters cannot obtain their PVCs.

“Reading out figures of registration is nothing. What matters is the number of cards actually collected by Nigerians. What gives a citizen power on election day is not that his name is in a register somewhere, but that he has his PVC in his hand,” he said.

The ADC-PCC expressed concern over alleged bureaucratic bottlenecks and delays at PVC collection centres, particularly in areas considered strongholds of opposition parties.

It urged INEC to ensure that no Nigerian is disenfranchised through administrative obstacles, deliberate delays or unequal access to voter cards.

“We urge INEC to be independent and not take orders from the APC. INEC must remain an unbiased umpire and not operate as an extension of the ruling party,” Ologbondiyan said.

He stressed that the ADC would insist on full compliance with the Constitution and Electoral Act throughout the electoral process.

“The ADC won’t allow anything short of compliance with our electoral laws. We demand full transparency, neutrality and strict adherence to due process from registration to declaration of results.”

The Council said it is closely monitoring INEC’s activities ahead of the 2027 polls, adding that Nigerians and the international community are also watching.

“We are carefully watching every step of INEC. Nigerians and the international community do too. The Commission should stay neutral, as no institution should push Nigerians to the wall by compromising the electoral process,” he said.

Ologbondiyan said Nigerians have endured hardship and cannot afford another election compromised by manipulation or institutional bias, adding that many see 2027 as an opportunity to effect change through the ballot.

“Let it be clear to INEC that the 2027 general election is not business as usual. Nigerians have endured hardship, hunger and misgovernance under the APC. They see 2027 as an opportunity for a rescue mission. Any attempt to rig or tilt the process in favour of the ruling party will be met with lawful and resolute resistance from the people.”

He warned against compromising the process through unequal distribution or delayed release of PVCs, saying democracy would be endangered if the umpire becomes partisan.

“When INEC begins to take dictation from the ruling party, when PVCs are made available in APC strongholds and hidden in opposition areas, then democracy is under threat. INEC must not become a political party. It must not write its name in the black book of history as the Commission that set Nigeria ablaze because it chose to serve a party instead of the nation.”

The ADC-PCC called on INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to decentralise PVC collection to ward level, extend collection hours and deploy technology to notify voters when their cards are ready.

It also appealed to Nigerians, particularly first-time voters, not to be discouraged by administrative challenges but to participate actively and ensure they collect their PVCs.

“This country belongs to all of us. INEC’s loyalty must be to the Constitution, not to the APC. The ADC stands with Nigerians in demanding an election where votes count and where the PVC truly becomes the weapon of the people to change their destiny,” Ologbondiyan added.