National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to caution the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against actions that could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections and trigger a political crisis.
Mark made the appeal on Thursday while receiving an ECOWAS pre-election fact-finding delegation in Abuja, stressing that transparent and credible elections remain essential to safeguarding peace and stability in Nigeria and the wider West African region.
According to the ADC leader, the party has concerns about INEC's preparedness for the polls, alleged government influence over key state institutions, including the judiciary, and what it described as threats of violence linked to the ruling party.
He warned that any process perceived as lacking credibility could heighten tensions and threaten national stability.
"The best way to prevent conflict, especially in relation to elections, is to ensure that it is free, fair and transparent," Mark said.
He urged the regional bloc to support efforts aimed at ensuring electoral integrity and preventing any actions that could plunge the country into avoidable unrest.
"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," he stated.
Mark further called on the regional body to include concerns about Nigeria's electoral process in its early warning and conflict-prevention framework.
"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.
Responding, the leader of the ECOWAS delegation and former Vice-President of Sierra Leone, Victor Bockarie Foh, said the concerns raised by the ADC, alongside submissions from other stakeholders, would be included in the mission's report to the regional organisation.
Foh explained that the delegation's visit was aimed at assessing Nigeria's level of preparedness for the 2027 elections and evaluating the political climate ahead of the polls.
He emphasised that peace and stability in Nigeria are of strategic importance to the entire West African sub-region.
The ECOWAS team also included Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Francess Piagie Alghali; representative of the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives' Committee, Julius Fofanah Sandy; and Head of the Electoral Assistance Division, Segrine Mamadou.
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