ADC condemns Anambra governorship election, alleges widespread vote buying
By Kunle Sanni –
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described the recently concluded Anambra governorship election as “heavily monetised and stripped of democratic integrity.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) winner of the election with 422,664 votes. Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) finished second with 99,445 votes, while the ADC came fifth, securing 8,208 votes.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the exercise was “a cash-drenched spectacle that resembled a bazaar rather than a democratic contest.”
Abdullahi accused the incumbent governor and his party of engaging in large scale vote buying, alleging that “bundles of naira notes exchanged hands openly” at polling units. He described the situation as a “brazen violation of the Electoral Act,” claiming it was enabled by the state government.
The ADC also criticised what it called the “concerning silence” of security agencies and election officials during the alleged infractions. “Security operatives stood by as voters were harassed and compromised, while electoral officials, overwhelmed or indifferent, failed to uphold even the most basic standards,” the statement read.
Abdullahi warned that the conduct of the election raised serious concerns about the credibility of future polls. “Nigerians should be deeply worried about the future of our democracy if the 2027 general election is conducted in this manner,” he said.
The party reaffirmed its commitment to promoting a political culture built on “integrity, inclusion, and service — not the crude exchange of cash for votes.”
