ADC: Anambra election heavily monetised — it was more of a bazaar

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) says the Anambra governorship election was “heavily monetised and stripped of democratic integrity”.

On Sunday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Chukwuma Soludo, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), as winner of the poll with 422,664 votes.

Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) came second with 99,445 votes, while the ADC placed fifth with 8,208 votes.

A statement by Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC spokesperson, said the election was “a cash-drenched spectacle that resembled a bazaar rather than a democratic contest”.

Abdullahi accused the incumbent governor and his party of engaging in widespread vote-buying and criticised the alleged silence of security agencies and electoral officials.

He said “bundles of naira notes exchanged hands openly” at polling units, describing the act as a “brazen violation of the Electoral Act” that was allegedly enabled by the governor.

“Even more troubling was the apparent silence — and in some instances, visible inaction — of institutions mandated to enforce electoral integrity,” the statement reads.

“Security operatives stood by as voters were harassed and compromised, while electoral officials, overwhelmed or indifferent, failed to uphold even the most basic standards.”

The ADC spokesperson said Nigerians should be worried about the future of democracy if INEC conducts the 2027 general election in a similar manner.

He said the party remains committed to a system where leadership is earned through “integrity, inclusion, and service — not through the crude exchange of cash for votes”.