Anambra Poll Was A ‘Bazaar,’ Nigerians Should Be Worried About 2027, Says ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed concern over the conduct of the recently concluded Anambra State governorship election, describing it as “a cash-drenched spectacle” that undermines democracy.

This was contained in a statement by the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdulahi, who said what transpired during the poll was more of “a bazaar than an election.”

According to him, the poll fell short of democratic standards.

“The African Democratic Congress has observed the conduct of the just concluded Anambra gubernatorial election with a deep sense of concern for the electoral process in Nigeria,” he wrote on his X handle on Sunday, hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Chukwuma Soludo as the winner of the exercise.

“What unfolded in Anambra was, regrettably, a cash-drenched spectacle that was more of a bazaar than an election. This undermines the very essence of democracy.”

The ADC accused the incumbent and his party of engaging in “several forms and styles of cash-for-votes”. The party alleged that bundles of naira notes exchanged hands at polling units across the state in full public view, a clear violation of the Electoral Act.

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Abdullahi also faulted security agencies and electoral officials for failing to enforce electoral integrity.

He said, “security operatives stood by as voters were harassed and compromised, while electoral officials, overwhelmed or indifferent, failed to uphold even the most basic standards.”

It warned that if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) continues in this direction, Nigerians should be concerned about the credibility of the 2027 general elections, especially as the world closely watches the country’s democratic process.

However, the ADC spokesman said that the party remains dedicated to building “a Nigeria where leadership is earned through integrity, inclusion, and service, not through the crude exchange of cash for votes.”

ADC’s candidate in the election, John Nwosu, came a distant fifth in the election with 8,208 votes.

Source: Channels TV