Chidinma Iroegbu
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission’s revised 2027 general election timetable, warning that new compliance provisions under the Electoral Act 2026 could exclude opposition parties from fielding candidates.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the requirement to submit a comprehensive digital membership register by April 2, 2026, ahead of party primaries scheduled between April 23 and May 30, 2026, creates what it described as a near-impossible deadline.
The ADC referenced Sections 77 and 82 of the Electoral Act 2026, noting that Section 77(4) mandates political parties to transmit their digital registers to INEC within the stipulated time frame.
Quoting Section 77(7), the party said any political party that fails to comply “shall not be eligible to field a candidate for that election,” adding that such provisions are “deliberately constructed barriers.”
It further explained that Section 77(2) requires detailed personal data of members, including National Identification Number, photograph, polling unit, and other particulars in both hard and soft copies, while Section 77(6) prohibits reliance on any pre-existing register.
According to the ADC, the ruling party had commenced digital membership registration as far back as February 2025, giving it what the opposition described as a one-year head start. “They had one whole year to carry out an exercise that other parties are now expected to complete in one month,” the statement said.
The party alleged that the revised timetable narrows democratic space and strengthens the position of the incumbent administration ahead of the 2027 presidential election. “A system that gives one party a one-year advantage is a rigged and corrupt system,” it stated.
The ADC said it would not legitimise what it termed a flawed framework and called on civil society organisations and democratic stakeholders to scrutinise the timetable. “We are reviewing our options and will make this known in the coming days,” the party added.