2027: ADC Chairman David Mark Petitions ECOWAS Over Tinubu, INEC

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to caution President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against actions that could threaten the credibility of the 2027 general election.

Mark made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja during a meeting with an ECOWAS pre-election fact-finding mission led by Victor Bockarie Foe, a former Vice President of Sierra Leone.

He urged the regional organisation to pay close attention to developments surrounding Nigeria’s electoral process and take preventive steps before political disagreements escalate into a wider crisis.

The former Senate President said Nigeria’s political stability was important not only to the country but also to the wider West African region.

He maintained that the credibility of the 2027 elections would have implications beyond Nigeria, considering the country’s influence in regional affairs.

According to him, the best way to prevent election-related violence is to ensure that the process is transparent, fair and acceptable to the participating political parties.

Mark further questioned INEC’s readiness and willingness to conduct an election that would reflect the wishes of Nigerians.

He alleged that the ruling party had taken control of important government institutions, including the judiciary and the electoral commission.

He warned that such developments could weaken public confidence in the electoral process and create conditions for political instability.

He also expressed concern over what he described as threats of violence coming from members of the ruling party.

The ADC chairman maintained that Nigeria could avoid unnecessary political tension if all institutions involved in the election performed their responsibilities independently and without interference.

Mark said the ADC was committed to maintaining peace throughout the electoral process.

However, he insisted that political parties should not be expected to remain silent when they believe that the conditions for a credible election are being threatened.

“Elections in Nigeria are critical to the stability of the West Africa region and will therefore attract global attention.

“The best way to prevent conflict, especially in relation to elections, is to ensure that it is free, fair and transparent,” he said.

He urged ECOWAS to take a more active interest in Nigeria’s preparations rather than wait until disagreements between political parties and electoral institutions become difficult to manage.

According to him, the regional organisation has an important responsibility to identify possible threats to democratic stability and engage relevant authorities before such concerns develop into conflict.

“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.

“This is why you must tell the Federal Government and the INEC that they must not do anything that could plunge Nigeria into needless crisis. This must form a part of your early warning signals,” he added.

Mark also noted that the ADC and ECOWAS shared an interest in ensuring peace and stability in Nigeria.

He said the credibility of elections remained an important factor in protecting democratic institutions and maintaining public confidence in government.

The former Senate President’s comments come amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition parties raising questions about the independence of electoral institutions and the conditions under which the next polls will be conducted.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for the ECOWAS delegation to hear directly from the ADC leadership about its concerns and expectations ahead of the elections.

Responding to Mark’s remarks, the head of the delegation, Victor Bockarie Foe, said the mission would communicate the issues raised by the opposition party to the leadership of ECOWAS.

Foe explained that the delegation was in Nigeria to assess the country’s level of preparedness for the 2027 general election and examine the political environment ahead of the exercise.

He said the mission was also interested in understanding the challenges facing political parties and other stakeholders involved in the electoral process.

According to him, the assessment would help the regional organisation evaluate whether the necessary conditions were in place for the effective conduct of the elections.

Foe added that the mission was working within the framework of the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework, which provides a regional mechanism for identifying and addressing potential threats to peace and democratic governance.

Other members of the team include Francess Piage Alghali, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Julius Fofanah Sandy, representing the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives’ Committee; and Segrine Mamadou, Head of the Electoral Assistance Division.

The mission’s visit to Nigeria runs from October 26 to 30, 2026. Its assignment includes examining the country’s electoral preparedness, reviewing the political atmosphere and gathering information on the legal and institutional arrangements governing the 2027 elections.

The exercise is part of ECOWAS’ efforts to support peaceful electoral processes in member states.

In a related development, the Independent National Electoral Commission’s activities have also come under scrutiny following a dispute involving the APC’s senatorial primary for Imo West.

On October 10, Politics Nigeria reported that INEC’s Imo State office had petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force over a disputed document circulating on social media, which allegedly presented former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha as the winner of the APC senatorial primary for Imo West.

The commission maintained that the authentic result submitted to its national headquarters identified Governor Hope Uzodimma as the winner of the primary conducted on May 18, 2026.

It subsequently asked the security agencies to investigate the circulation of the disputed document.

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