The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted the newly released 2027 general election timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing it as a calculated move that tilts the political field in favour of President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement issued Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC argued that what INEC presented as a routine electoral schedule is, in reality, a framework structured to benefit the incumbent administration ahead of the 2027 polls.
Concerns Over Timelines and Legal Provisions
According to the party, the timetable fixes party primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026 — leaving opposition parties with a narrow window to prepare.
More contentious, however, is the requirement under Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 mandating political parties to submit their digital membership registers by April 2, 2026.
The ADC noted that this deadline leaves parties with barely over a month to compile and transmit detailed membership data to INEC.
Under Section 77(7) of the same law, any party that fails to meet this requirement risks disqualification from fielding candidates.
The party further highlighted Section 77(2), which stipulates that membership registers must include comprehensive personal data such as names, gender, dates of birth, addresses, states, local government areas, wards, polling units, National Identification Numbers (NIN), and photographs — in both hard and electronic formats.
Section 77(6) also bars the use of previously existing membership records that do not meet these new specifications.
Allegations of Unequal Advantage
The ADC claimed that the APC had already begun compiling digital membership records as far back as February 2025 — well before the legal requirement became public knowledge.
According to the opposition party, this effectively grants the ruling party a year-long head start, while others are left scrambling to meet tight deadlines.
Describing the situation as fundamentally unfair, the ADC argued that a credible democracy depends on equal conditions for all contestants.
It maintained that giving the incumbent party advance preparation time undermines the integrity of the electoral process.
Rejection of Electoral Act and Timetable
The party said it is rejecting both the revised timetable and the amended Electoral Act 2026, alleging that the two instruments were crafted to secure what it called President Tinubu’s “automatic self-succession.”
The ADC stated it would not participate in any process it believes legitimises what it termed a compromised system. It added that consultations are ongoing within the party and with other opposition groups, and that its next line of action will be announced soon.
Call for Broader Democratic Scrutiny
Finally, the ADC called on civil society organizations, pro-democracy advocates, and Nigerians across party lines to closely examine the timetable and push for what it described as a fair and transparent electoral framework.
The party warned that democracy cannot thrive where electoral rules are perceived to be tailored toward predetermined outcomes, stressing that public vigilance will be critical as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.