By Peter Dansu In a strong push for Nigeria’s democratic advancement, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the European Union Electio...
By Peter Dansu
In a strong push for Nigeria’s democratic advancement, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) have jointly demanded far-reaching electoral reforms to restore public confidence and ensure free, fair, and credible elections ahead of the 2027 general polls.
The call came during a high-level meeting held in Abuja between the EU delegation, led by Mr. Barry Andrews, Chief of Mission and Member of the European Parliament, and the ADC leadership, headed by Senator David Mark, the party’s National Chairman, alongside Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, National Secretary.
The meeting, part of the EU’s post-election assessment of Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, focused on identifying institutional weaknesses and developing a roadmap for credible reforms before the next electoral cycle.
Both parties agreed that the 2023 elections fell short of public expectations, citing widespread irregularities, inconsistencies in result collation, and institutional failures by both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary.
Senator Mark, speaking on behalf of the ADC, lamented that “INEC betrayed the trust of Nigerians” by failing to uphold its promise of real-time result transmission through the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, which was meant to enhance transparency and accountability.
“The final results announced were at variance with the votes cast at polling units across the country. This singular act eroded public trust and dented the credibility of the electoral process,” the ADC stated.
The party also criticized the judiciary’s role in post-election disputes, arguing that courts had “usurped the sovereign right of the people to freely choose their leaders.” According to the ADC, “in genuine electoral disputes, the people should have the final say through a fresh democratic process, not through judicial declarations.”
To prevent future abuse, the ADC proposed a constitutional amendment to decentralize the appointment of the INEC Chairman and National Commissioners, insisting that the process should not be solely controlled by the President. The party suggested that all political parties with at least five members in the National Assembly be granted the right to nominate candidates for the top INEC positions — a move they say would enhance neutrality and restore credibility to the commission.
Mr. Barry Andrews, who led the EU delegation, reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to supporting democratic reforms in Nigeria, noting that credible elections remain the cornerstone of governance, peace, and development.
“The EU remains a steadfast partner in Nigeria’s democratic journey. We believe that addressing the gaps exposed during the 2023 elections is key to ensuring that future polls truly reflect the will of the Nigerian people,” Andrews stated.
Other members of the ADC delegation included Liyel Imoke, Emeka Ihedioha, Babachir Lawal, Bolaji Abdullahi, Ibrahim Mani, and Chile Igbawua, among others.
The EU team comprised Mr. Gautier Mignot, EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS; Mr. Ralph-Michael Peters, Election Expert and Team Lead; Ms. Eirini-Maria Gounari, Election Legal Expert; Mr. Maros Gabriel, Election Administration Expert; Ms. Laolu Olawumi, Programme Manager, Democracy and Rule of Law; Mr. Osaro Odemwingie, Political Adviser; and Mr. Ruben Alba Aguilera, Team Leader, EU Delegation.
The meeting ended with both sides pledging continued collaboration toward reforming Nigeria’s electoral framework — a partnership that observers say could mark a turning point in the nation’s quest for genuine democracy and credible leadership selection.
No comments