David Mark warns against election manipulation in 2027

Senator David Mark, the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, has raised alarm over the use of state institutions to rig the 2027 general elections. He stressed that the credibility of the elections must be "non-negotiable".

Mark also warned against intimidation, violence, and other forms of electoral wrongdoing. He said the ADC wants the upcoming elections to be transparent, inclusive, peaceful, and free from any interference.

The former Senate President spoke on Wednesday in Abuja. He was meeting with a delegation from the International Republican Institute, which is in Nigeria to assess the preparations for the 2027 elections.

According to Mark, the integrity of the electoral process is key to ensuring that Nigerians trust the results of the 2027 elections. "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," he said.

He expressed worry about the ongoing abuse of the electoral process by both government officials and non-state actors. He warned that these actions could hurt democracy and reduce public trust in elections.

Mark pointed to the violence and intimidation during the recent governorship election in Osun State. He said this should serve as a warning for the 2027 elections. Reports showed that at least 30 people lost their lives during that election, which he called unacceptable and worthy of condemnation.

"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.

The ADC chairman added that his party is dedicated to ensuring an electoral process that is safe. Voters must be able to cast their votes without fear or intimidation. He emphasized that every vote should count and that the choices made by the people must be respected.

His statements come as political parties and other groups ramp up their preparations for the 2027 general elections. There are already worries about electoral violence, the neutrality of state institutions, and the credibility of the electoral process.

Earlier, the IRI delegation stated that their visit aimed to check Nigeria’s readiness and to talk to key groups about issues affecting the elections. Jenai Cox, the African Regional Director of IRI, said they are on a pre-election assessment mission to see how preparations for the 2027 polls are going.

Cox noted that IRI has been observing Nigerian elections since 1999 and has monitored the recent Osun State governorship election. Another team also visited Ekiti State to assess the situation. He said the current mission will wrap up at the end of the week, after which the organization will share recommendations based on talks with political parties, civil groups, and other stakeholders.