2027: ADC will not trust INEC with its votes — Bolaji Abdullahi

By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has said the party will not rely solely on trust in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2027 general elections, insisting that it will take steps to protect its votes. Abdullahi stated this on Wednesday in Ilorin while speaking with journalists during the party’s walk-to-rule exercise aimed at sensitising residents of the Kwara State capital about the ADC. He said while some officials within INEC remain committed to conducting credible elections, the party would not base its electoral strategy on trust alone.

“With due respect, INEC still has people that are committed to doing the right thing, but we are not going to run our election based on trust,” he said. The ADC spokesman added that the party had trusted the electoral process in previous elections but was disappointed with the outcome, stressing that it would defend its votes in 2027. “We know what they are capable of doing.

We trusted them in 2023 and we saw what happened. We are not going to trust them with our votes this time around,” he said. On how the party intends to protect its votes, Abdullahi said, “We are not going to tell you, but that is what we are going to do if we must win this election.” Speaking on the walk-to-rule exercise, the ADC chieftain said members initially had concerns about its success due to limited resources compared with other political parties that could mobilise large crowds.

According to him, the turnout exceeded expectations, as many supporters walked about 13 kilometres from Adeita Roundabout in Ilorin to the party’s state secretariat in the Basin area. He said the development showed that the party had attracted genuine support from residents and demonstrated that the ADC could provide an alternative political platform for Kwarans ahead of 2027. Abdullahi urged residents of the state to support the ADC and vote for its candidates, saying the party would focus on improving socio-economic conditions, particularly in rural communities.

On the party’s Kwara governorship candidate, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, a two-term member of the House of Representatives, Abdullahi said he possesses greater experience and pedigree compared with the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He said the fact that both candidates are…