ADC Affirms Parties and Citizens Can Independently Collate Election Results

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has firmly stated that political parties and citizens have the right to independently collect, collate, and share election results ahead of the 2027 general elections, even as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) warns against such private collation. The party emphasized that while INEC holds the statutory authority to announce official results and declare winners, this does not negate the constitutional rights of individuals and organizations to gather and disseminate election data. In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC grounded its stance in Nigeria’s fundamental freedoms, particularly the rights to freedom of expression and access to information.

The ADC maintained that these rights are protected under the Nigerian Constitution and cannot be overridden simply because INEC is responsible for official declarations. “We recognise that the right to freedom of expression has its limits, but those limits do not take away our right to independently collate and share election results,” the party said. This position reflects a broader concern among some political actors about transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s electoral process. The party plans to deploy polling agents to document results at polling units across the country, ensuring accurate and real-time data collection.

These agents will record results as they are announced at each polling unit, and the party’s internal structures will then collate and verify the figures before sharing them with the public. The ADC stressed that all shared information would include clear details about sources and verification status to ensure credibility and prevent misinformation. “INEC’s responsibility to declare official results does not prevent political parties and citizens from independently collecting, collating and sharing election information,” the party reiterated. It further clarified that acknowledging INEC’s legal mandate does not mean surrendering the right to gather and report on election outcomes.

This stance comes after INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan issued a warning against the dissemination of privately collated results, reiterating that only the commission has the authority to officially declare election winners. INEC has consistently maintained that its role is central to the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral framework. However, the ADC argues that democratic participation requires more than just waiting for official announcements—it demands active citizen engagement and oversight. As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, the debate over who can and should report election results is likely to remain a key issue in discussions about electoral transparency and public trust.