The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced it will hold a crucial meeting in the coming days to determine whether to file a legal challenge against the official outcome of the recently concluded Anambra State governorship election.
Election Outcome and Initial Party Response
This development follows the declaration of Professor Chukwuma Soludo, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the incumbent governor, as the winner of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday. When initially contacted by The Guardian for comment, the ADC's National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, provided a brief response via a WhatsApp message, stating, "We will decide that in the coming days."
Formal Allegations of a "Cash-Drenched Spectacle"
However, the party's position became far more explicit in a formal statement released on Sunday. In the statement, Abdullahi articulated the ADC's profound dissatisfaction with the conduct of the electoral exercise. The party described the election as "heavily monetized" and a process that severely undermined democratic principles.
The ADC directly accused the incumbent governor and his political party of engaging in widespread cash-for-votes activities. The statement lamented, "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." It further alleged that bundles of naira notes were exchanged in plain sight at polling units across the state, constituting a brazen violation of the Electoral Act.
Criticism of Security and Electoral Bodies
The party's condemnation extended to the security agencies and INEC officials deployed for the election. The ADC expressed deep concern over the "apparent silence — and in some instances, visible inaction" of these institutions. According to the party, security operatives stood by while voters were harassed and compromised, and electoral officials failed to uphold basic standards, with their inaction "bordering on collusion."
The statement issued a stark warning, suggesting that if this is the standard INEC intends to set for the 2027 general elections, then Nigerians have legitimate reasons to worry about the future of the nation's democracy, especially under international scrutiny.
Reaffirming its core values, the ADC added, "On our part, the ADC remains committed to building a Nigeria where leadership is earned through integrity, inclusion, and service — not through the crude exchange of cash for votes." The party's final decision on pursuing legal action is now highly anticipated.
