ADC Kicks Against Revised INEC Timetable, Alleges Plot to Edge Out Opposition in 2027

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, on Friday rejected the revised 2026–2027 electoral timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, alleging that the new schedule contains provisions designed to exclude opposition parties from participating effectively in the 2027 general elections.

The party specifically faulted new compliance requirements tied to Sections 77 and 82 of the Electoral Act 2026, describing them as “deliberate barriers” that impose unfair burdens on opposition parties while allegedly favouring the ruling party.

In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC argued that the timeline for submitting a comprehensive digital membership register ahead of party primaries presents what it called an almost impossible condition for many political parties.

According to the timetable, political parties are expected to conduct their primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026. However, parties are also required under Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act to submit their digital membership registers to INEC not later than April 2, 2026.

The ADC noted that the deadline leaves parties with barely 34 days to comply, warning that failure to meet the requirement could disqualify affected parties from fielding candidates in the elections.

Quoting provisions of the law, the party said Section 77(7) stipulates that any political party that fails to submit its membership register within the stipulated period “shall not be eligible to field a candidate for that election.”

The party further explained that the law mandates detailed personal data of members, including names, sex, date of birth, addresses, states, local government areas, wards, polling units, National Identification Numbers, and photographs in both hard and soft copies.

ADC argued that the prohibition against using pre-existing membership registers, as provided under Section 77(6), compounds the challenge for opposition parties that must now conduct fresh nationwide digital registration exercises within a short timeframe.

The party alleged that the ruling party had begun compiling such digital records as far back as February 2025, giving it what it described as an unfair advantage.

“This is not a routine administrative schedule but a political instrument carefully structured to narrow democratic space and strengthen the hand of the incumbent administration ahead of the 2027 general elections,” the statement read.

The ADC maintained that democratic competition requires a level playing field and warned that any system perceived to favour one political actor could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

It added that it had joined other opposition parties in rejecting what it described as a “corrupted Electoral Act 2026,” insisting that the revised timetable appears designed to support what it termed an “automatic self-succession project.”

The party said it was reviewing its options and would announce its next line of action in the coming days.

ADC also called on civil society organisations, democratic stakeholders and Nigerians to scrutinise the timetable and demand fairness in the electoral process.

As of press time, INEC had yet to issue an official response to the allegations raised by the opposition party.