The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, David Mark, has called on the Economic Community of West African States to intervene early in Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 general election, urging the regional body to warn the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission against decisions capable of undermining the credibility of the polls.
Mark made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja while receiving an ECOWAS pre-election fact-finding delegation led by Victor Bockarie Foe, a former Vice President of Sierra Leone.
He urged the mission to closely monitor political and electoral developments in Nigeria and take necessary preventive measures before emerging disagreements degenerate into a major political crisis.
The former Senate President stressed that Nigeria’s political stability was closely connected to the security and democratic progress of other West African countries. He argued that the outcome and credibility of the 2027 elections would have far-reaching consequences for the region, given Nigeria’s strategic position and influence within ECOWAS.
Mark maintained that credible elections remained the most effective safeguard against election-related violence, insisting that all political parties must have confidence in the transparency, fairness and impartiality of the electoral process.
He also raised questions about INEC’s preparedness and commitment to conducting an election that accurately reflects the choices of Nigerians. The ADC chairman alleged that the ruling party had extended its influence over critical public institutions, particularly the judiciary and the electoral commission, warning that perceived institutional compromise could erode public trust and heighten political tensions.
The opposition leader further expressed concern over what he characterised as threatening statements and indications of possible violence by members of the ruling party. He argued that the country could avoid unnecessary political confrontation if institutions responsible for managing the electoral process discharged their duties independently and remained free from political interference.
While reaffirming the ADC’s commitment to peaceful political engagement before, during and after the elections, Mark insisted that opposition parties should not be expected to overlook circumstances they consider harmful to electoral credibility.
“Elections in Nigeria are critical to the stability of the West Africa region and will therefore attract global attention.
“The best way to prevent conflict, especially in relation to elections, is to ensure that it is free, fair and transparent,” he said.
He called on ECOWAS to become more actively involved in monitoring Nigeria’s electoral preparations, rather than waiting for disagreements between political parties and election management institutions to escalate beyond control.
Mark said the regional organisation had a responsibility to identify potential threats to democratic governance and engage relevant authorities before such challenges developed into security concerns.
“We in the ADC have committed ourselves to the highest standards of peaceful conduct before, during and after the elections. But we need ECOWAS to join us in insisting on a credible election now.
“This is why you must tell the Federal Government and the INEC that they must not do anything that could plunge Nigeria into needless crisis. This must form a part of your early warning signals,” he added.
He further emphasised that the ADC and ECOWAS shared common interests in protecting Nigeria’s democratic institutions and sustaining peace across the subregion. According to him, public confidence in government and the preservation of democratic stability depend largely on the credibility of the electoral process.
Mark’s intervention comes against the backdrop of increasing political activities ahead of the 2027 general election, as opposition parties continue to express concerns about the independence of electoral institutions and the conditions under which the forthcoming polls will be conducted.
The engagement also allowed the ECOWAS delegation to obtain firsthand accounts of the ADC leadership’s concerns regarding Nigeria’s electoral environment and its expectations for the next general election.
In his response, the delegation leader, Victor Bockarie Foe, assured the opposition party that the issues raised during the meeting would be conveyed to the ECOWAS leadership.
Foe explained that the mission’s visit was intended to evaluate Nigeria’s level of preparedness for the 2027 elections and assess the prevailing political atmosphere ahead of the exercise. He said the delegation was also examining the difficulties confronting political parties and other stakeholders participating in the electoral process.
According to him, the findings would enable ECOWAS to determine whether the appropriate political, legal and institutional conditions were being established for the successful conduct of the elections.
He disclosed that the mission was operating under the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework, a regional mechanism designed to identify emerging threats and facilitate timely interventions to protect peace, security and democratic governance among member states.
Members of the delegation included Francess Piage Alghali, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Julius Fofanah Sandy, representing the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives’ Committee; and Segrine Mamadou, Head of the Electoral Assistance Division.
The ECOWAS mission is in Nigeria from October 26 to 30, 2026, to evaluate preparations for the 2027 general election, examine the political environment and obtain information on the legal and institutional frameworks guiding the electoral process.
The assessment forms part of the regional organisation’s broader commitment to promoting peaceful, credible and transparent elections across its member states.
Meanwhile, INEC has also faced scrutiny following a controversy surrounding the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election for Imo West.
The electoral commission maintained that the result officially received at its national headquarters recognised Governor Hope Uzodimma as the winner of the primary held on May 18, 2026.
INEC subsequently called on security agencies to investigate the circulation of a disputed document relating to the exercise.
