By Peter Omopo
The African Democratic Congress has rejected the revised 2026–2027 general election timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, alleging that the schedule is structured to favour the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the new timetable as a political instrument designed to narrow the democratic space and create obstacles for opposition parties.
INEC had initially fixed the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections for March 6, 2027. However, following concerns from Muslim stakeholders that the dates coincided with the Ramadan period, the National Assembly amended Clause 28 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, reducing the required notice period from 360 to 300 days to enable a change in dates.
INEC subsequently released a revised schedule moving the Presidential and National Assembly elections to January 16, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections to February 6, 2027.
The ADC argued that the requirement for political parties to submit comprehensive digital membership registers by April 2, 2026, in line with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026, imposes a near-impossible deadline on opposition parties. The party noted that primaries are scheduled to hold between April 23 and May 30, 2026, leaving limited time for compliance.
According to the party, failure to meet the digital membership requirement would disqualify parties from fielding candidates, as provided under Section 77(7) of the Act. It further pointed out that the law mandates detailed personal information, including names, dates of birth, addresses, polling units, National Identification Numbers and photographs, and prohibits the use of pre-existing registers that do not meet these specifications.
The ADC questioned the fairness of the requirement, alleging that the ruling All Progressives Congress began its digital registration process as far back as February 2025, giving it a significant advantage. The party described the situation as a rigged system that undermines democratic competition.
It stated that it has joined other opposition parties in rejecting the Electoral Act 2026 and the revised INEC timetable, warning that it would not take steps that legitimise what it termed a fraudulent system. The party said it is reviewing its options and would announce its next line of action in the coming days.
The ADC also called on civil society organisations and other democratic stakeholders to scrutinise the timetable and demand fairness, stressing that democracy cannot thrive where electoral rules appear structured to produce predetermined outcomes.
