The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly opposed a proposal by the National Assembly to shift the 2027 general elections forward to November 2026, warning that such a move could significantly undermine governance in Nigeria.
The proposal, which was presented during a joint public hearing in Abuja on Monday, seeks to amend the current electoral calendar to allow for the conclusion of election petitions before the swearing-in of new officeholders.
However, the ADC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, issued a statement on Tuesday rejecting the idea.
According to the party, the proposed timeline would shorten the effective period for governance and plunge the country into a never-ending election cycle.
“By cutting the current political calendar by six months, the proposal threatens to push Nigeria into a state of permanent electioneering, where politics dominates governance and development is perpetually on hold,” Abdullahi said.
He explained that if elections are held in November 2026, serious campaigning would likely begin as early as 2025, leaving elected officials with barely two years to focus on actual governance before political distractions take over.
“Presidents, governors, ministers, and public officials will prioritize campaign positioning over public service. Projects may be abandoned, policies stalled, and leadership focus will shift prematurely to the next election,” the statement warned.
Abdullahi also cited the current climate under the APC-led administration as a cautionary example, noting that political campaigning has already overshadowed governance long before the end of the term.
While acknowledging the concern over delayed resolution of election petitions, the ADC insisted that amending the election date is not the solution.
Instead, the party called for reforms that would strengthen the nation’s institutions, particularly the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“If the aim is to ensure petitions are resolved before inaugurations, then the focus should be on judicial reform, strict adherence to tribunal timelines, and capacity building within INEC, not on cutting short the democratic mandate of elected leaders,” Abdullahi concluded.
