The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised concerns over what it described as the alleged politicisation of key democratic institutions, warning that the perceived involvement of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police Force in political activities could undermine confidence in the country’s electoral system.
The opposition party alleged that recent developments involving electoral processes and the activities of some security officials have raised questions about the neutrality of institutions expected to operate independently and protect the integrity of elections.
ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, expressed concern over what the party described as a growing overlap between state institutions and partisan interests, stressing that agencies responsible for conducting elections and maintaining security must remain impartial.Abdullahi said the developments showed a “dangerous collapse of the boundary between the Nigerian state and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).”
He added, “There are no longer any discernible boundaries between the Nigerian state and the ruling APC. Political actors are openly infiltrating state institutions, while heads of security units who should statutorily maintain neutrality are shamelessly turning into political cheerleaders of the ruling party and the President.”
The party argued that the credibility of future elections depends largely on the ability of institutions such as INEC and the police to maintain public trust, insisting that neutrality must not only be practised but also be clearly demonstrated to Nigerians.
ADC called for transparency and accountability from relevant authorities, urging officials overseeing electoral administration and security operations to avoid actions that could create doubts about their commitment to a level playing field for all political parties.
The party warned that any attempt to compromise the independence of democratic institutions could further weaken public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
