The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the recently concluded Anambra State governorship election, describing it as “heavily monetised” and devoid of genuine democratic principles.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the party alleged that the electoral process was “stripped of integrity” and turned into what it called a “political bazaar,” where vote-buying overshadowed the will of the people.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), emerged victorious with a total of 422,664 votes, defeating his closest rivals from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the ADC expressed disappointment over what it termed the excessive monetisation of the process, claiming that financial inducement played a major role in determining the outcome of the election.
“The Anambra governorship election was heavily monetised and stripped of democratic integrity. It was more of a bazaar than an election,” the ADC said.
The party called on INEC and relevant authorities to address the growing trend of vote-buying and electoral corruption, warning that the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy remains at stake if such practices persist.
Despite the concerns raised, INEC has maintained that the election was largely peaceful and in line with electoral guidelines.
Observers have, however, called for stronger enforcement of campaign finance laws and voter education to reduce the influence of money in future elections.
