The African Democratic Congress has cautioned that continued delays in the passage of the Electoral Bill 2025 by the National Assembly could jeopardise key electoral reforms and threaten the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the APC-led Senate of deliberately slowing down the amendment process, warning that vital provisions such as electronic voter accreditation and electronic transmission of results may be weakened or stalled.
The warning comes amid renewed legislative activity on the bill.
On Thursday, the Senate inaugurated a seven-member ad hoc committee tasked with reviewing, harmonising and streamlining senators’ contributions to the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act.
The committee was constituted after a three-hour closed-door executive session in which lawmakers deliberated on the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill currently before the National Assembly.
Announcing the committee’s inauguration, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the panel would consolidate lawmakers’ positions and resolve outstanding issues in the amendment process.
The committee is chaired by Senator Niyi Adegbonmire, who also heads the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.
Despite the development, the ADC expressed strong concern over what it described as unnecessary delays, arguing that the slow pace of the legislative process raises fears that critical reforms aimed at curbing electoral malpractice may be compromised.
The party also noted that some of the proposed amendments introduce new compliance and eligibility requirements for political parties, stressing that insufficient time to fully understand and comply with the provisions could have far-reaching consequences.
According to the ADC, inadequate clarity and late passage of the law could create avoidable pitfalls for opposition parties and hinder the Independent National Electoral Commission from preparing effectively and issuing clear guidelines within the required timelines.
The party cited the existing provision mandating INEC to publish election notices not later than 360 days before a general election, warning that the window for effective implementation is already narrowing.
“The implication is that even now, there is very little room for manoeuvre,” the party said, adding that further delays would pose a serious risk to the integrity of the 2027 elections.
The ADC called on the National Assembly to urgently pass the Electoral Bill, warning that Nigeria cannot afford another disputed or acrimonious electoral process.
It also urged civil society organisations, international partners and political parties committed to democratic accountability to mount pressure on the legislature to act swiftly.
According to the party, the failure to enact these critical reforms in good time would undermine public confidence in the electoral process well ahead of the next general elections.
