2027 Election: ADC Alleges Intimidation, Violence by Tinubu Administration

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has accused the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration of using intimidation, violence, and state institutions to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC-PCC, Kola Ologbondiyan, made the allegations in Abuja on Sunday. He claimed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is manipulating democratic institutions and deploying state machinery against opposition parties.

The ADC-PCC cited the reported killing of several members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Delta State, allegedly following an attack on the party's campaign venue by suspected APC supporters. The party described the incident as part of a broader pattern of alleged political violence against opposition parties, particularly the ADC, NDC, and Allied Peoples Movement (APM), in several states. The ADC-PCC alleged that this is not politics, but state-sponsored terror against democracy.

The ADC-PCC also questioned the preparedness and neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that the voter register database had been compromised and that individuals sympathetic to the APC had been deployed to sensitive positions within the electoral body. The party expressed concern over the alleged participation of a serving director of a security agency in the APC Presidential Campaign Council as co-Director of National Security and Intelligence.

The ADC-PCC alleged that security agencies were being used to harass, arrest, and intimidate members and supporters of opposition parties in different parts of the country. The party described the alleged development as a violation of the law establishing the agency and called for scrutiny of the involvement of serving public officials in partisan political activities. The ADC-PCC warned that failure to speak out against alleged political violence and intimidation could embolden those seeking to undermine democratic institutions.

The ADC-PCC urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and defend their votes, democratic rights, and constitutional freedoms as political activities intensify ahead of the general elections. The party called on the international community, civil society organisations, religious leaders, and traditional institutions to pay closer attention to Nigeria's political and security environment. The campaign council warned that those who allow themselves to be used as tools of oppression will answer for their actions.

The ADC-PCC insisted that the 2027 presidential election must reflect the genuine will of Nigerians, stressing that the electorate should be allowed to freely determine the country's political future through a credible, transparent, and peaceful electoral process. The party maintained that alleged manipulation of judicial processes and electoral institutions cannot guarantee victory for the ruling party. The council warned against any attempt to determine the outcome of the 2027 election outside the ballot box.

The ADC-PCC appealed to security agencies to remain politically neutral, insisting that their primary allegiance should be to the Constitution and the Nigerian people rather than any political party or individual. The party said one thing is now clear to all Nigerians: Tinubu is not preparing for an election, but for a coronation. The ADC-PCC expressed confidence that such alleged tactics would not prevent Nigerians from rejecting the incumbent at the polls.

Key points

• ADC party alleges intimidation, violence by Tinubu administration ahead of 2027 election
• Party claims voter register database has been compromised
• ADC-PCC urges Nigerians to remain vigilant, defend their votes, and democratic rights