ADC Describes Anambra Election As “Cash-And-Carry” Democracy

By Ayodele Oni

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described  the November 8, 2025, Anambra State governorship election as a “cash-and-carry democracy” that erodes public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused the incumbent administration and its political machinery of deploying massive financial inducements to sway voters, alleging that “bundles of naira notes changed hands in full view” at polling units across the state.

The total number of votes credited to the ADC by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after total collation are less than 3,000.

The party maintained that “What unfolded in Anambra was, regrettably, a cash-drenched spectacle that was more of a bazaar than an election. This undermines the very essence of democracy.”

The ADC expressed dismay over what it called the “silence and inaction” of key institutions charged with ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.

It alleged that security operatives looked away as voters were harassed and compromised, while some electoral officials appeared “overwhelmed or indifferent.”

The party warned that if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant authorities fail to address these lapses, Nigerians should brace for a troubling precedent heading into the 2027 general elections.

“If this is the manner in which INEC intends to conduct the 2027 general election, then Nigerians have every reason to be worried about the future of our democracy,” the statement added.

Reaffirming its commitment to clean and credible politics, the ADC emphasized that leadership should be earned through “integrity, inclusion, and service — not through the crude exchange of cash for votes.”