ADC RAISES OBJECTION TO INEC’S UPDATED ELECTION DATES
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By: Fasasi Hammad
The African Democratic Congress has rejected the new election timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission, alleging that it is designed to marginalise opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the revised schedule as “a political instrument carefully structured to narrow democratic space,” rather than a routine administrative plan.
The ADC argued that the new provisions in the Electoral Act 2026 impose heavy obligations on political parties. According to the timetable, party primaries are set for April 23 to May 30, 2026, but parties must submit a comprehensive digital membership register to INEC by April 2, 2026 — just weeks away.
The party cited Section 77 of the law, which states that any party failing to submit the register on time “shall not be eligible to field a candidate,” and called it a deliberate barrier targeting opposition parties.
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Under the new requirements, the digital register must include members’ names, sex, date of birth, address, state, local government, ward, polling unit, National Identification Number (NIN), and photographs. Old membership lists that do not meet these standards are invalid, with noncompliance potentially leading to disqualification.
The ADC accused the ruling party of gaining an unfair advantage by compiling a compliant register as early as February 2025, well before it became a legal requirement. “This is not a product of foresight but insider knowledge,” the statement said.
The party argued that while the incumbents had a year to prepare, other parties now face the nearly impossible task of completing the process in roughly one month. It warned that the timetable and law appear designed to clear the path for President Bola Tinubu to secure re-election with minimal competition.
“A system where one party leverages incumbency to gain a year-long head start is rigged and corrupt,” the ADC said, adding that it has joined other opposition groups in rejecting both the Electoral Act 2026 and the new timetable.
The party urged civil society and Nigerians across party lines to scrutinise the timetable and demand fairness, emphasizing that democracy cannot thrive if the rules are skewed in favour of a single party.
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