The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has admitted its disappointing outing in Saturday’s by-elections, attributing the outcome to widespread violence, vote buying, and irregularities that allegedly tainted the process.
In a statement on Sunday signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the credibility of the elections was compromised by several incidents across the affected states.
According to the ADC, about 300 armed thugs were reportedly arrested during the exercise, while ballot box snatching and voter intimidation disrupted multiple polling units.
The party also cited reports of massive vote buying, including the arrest of a suspect in Kaduna with ₦25.9 million, and alleged collusion by some electoral officials in inducements.
Beyond security concerns, the ADC pointed to technical failures of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of incompetence and bias.
“These by-elections are a dress rehearsal for 2027. If violence, vote buying, intimidation, and collusion with security forces become the new normal, Nigerians and the international community must brace themselves,” the statement warned.
The party called on relevant authorities to urgently address the lapses and ensure free, fair, and credible elections in order to protect democracy and restore voter confidence ahead of the 2027 general polls.
