National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, David Mark, has warned that the party will resist any attempt to manipulate the 2027 general elections or rig it out of the contest.
Mark spoke on Wednesday in Abuja when he received members of the governing council of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development at the ADC national headquarters.
The delegation was led by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola (retd.).
Mark said the ADC was prepared to comply with electoral rules and conduct itself responsibly throughout the election.
“We hold ourselves to the highest standards of good conduct as a political party. We will play by the rules. But we will not accept rigging or allow ourselves to be rigged out,” he said.
“We are committed to playing politics in a manner that promotes public confidence in democracy.”
The former Senate President said the party would comply with guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission as well as provisions of its Orange Book, which outlines its code of conduct and governance principles.
Mark had previously warned against the use of state institutions to influence the outcome of the 2027 elections, insisting that the credibility of the polls must be protected.
Speaking during the visit, Ariwoola said the Savannah Centre was seeking commitments from political parties and candidates towards peaceful, free, fair, and credible elections.
He urged the ADC leadership to ensure that its candidates and supporters obey INEC rules and avoid actions capable of triggering political violence.
The visit formed part of ongoing engagements by the centre’s Council of the Wise with political parties and other stakeholders ahead of the elections.
The council was reconstituted in June with a mandate to promote credible elections and engage political actors, electoral authorities, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, and civil society organisations.
