2027: Stop treating elections as war, do-or-die affair — David Mark
By Luminous Jannamike
ABUJA — Senator David Mark, the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has cautioned political figures against treating elections as a matter of life or death. He emphasized that the integrity of the 2027 general elections must be prioritized.
While meeting with a delegation from the International Republican Institute (IRI) in Abuja on Wednesday, Mark underscored the necessity for Nigerians to elect their leaders without fear of violence, intimidation, or manipulation of governmental powers. His comments follow recent violent incidents during the Osun State governorship election, where reports indicated at least 30 fatalities. Mark stated such violence has no place in a democratic process.
“Elections should not be treated as war or a do-or-die affair,” Mark remarked. “They should represent a democratic process through which citizens can choose their leaders and promote their aspirations for development and a better quality of life.”
The ADC leader expressed concerns regarding the electoral process, noting an increase in abuse by both government officials and non-state actors. He stated the party seeks a fair electoral environment where every vote is counted and legitimate mandates are honored.
“The credibility of the 2027 elections must be non-negotiable. We expect the electoral process to be transparent, inclusive, peaceful, and free from manipulation and intimidation,” Mark said.
He welcomed IRI’s engagement with political parties, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders, affirming the ADC’s commitment to share its insights as preparations for the elections continue.
Responding to Mark, Jenai Cox, the African Regional Director of the IRI, explained that the mission aims to assess the preparations for the 2027 general elections and gather input from various stakeholders regarding upcoming challenges.
“Our objective is to evaluate the preparations for the upcoming general election,” Cox said, noting that the delegation had previously observed elections in Osun and Ekiti.
She highlighted IRI’s history of monitoring elections in Nigeria since the return to democratic rule in 1999, in collaboration with the National Democratic Institute (NDI). The current assessment is scheduled to conclude at the end of the week.
Following their observations and discussions, Cox indicated the mission would issue recommendations addressing both the recent elections and stakeholder feedback gathered in Abuja.
“By the end of this week, we will provide recommendations based on our findings from the off-cycle elections and consultations here,” Cox stated.
Mark noted that independent evaluations like those conducted by IRI could pinpoint deficiencies in the electoral system and bolster public trust in the process.
“We believe that independent and credible assessments by organizations such as IRI can significantly contribute to identifying the challenges ahead and enhancing confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process,” he added.
The IRI delegation, led by President Dan Twining, included prominent figures such as former U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi Frazier, as well as other program directors and analysts. The NDI was represented by Deputy Director Sophia Moestrup and Nigeria Country Director Francis Madugu.
