The African Democratic Congress has faulted the updated 2026–2027 general election timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission, alleging that the new schedule is skewed to favour the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement released on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the revised timetable as more than a routine administrative adjustment, insisting that it introduces stringent requirements capable of shutting out opposition parties from the 2027 race.
INEC had on February 13 fixed February 20, 2027, for the Presidential and National Assembly elections and March 6, 2027, for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls.
However, concerns were raised by Muslim stakeholders that the dates clashed with the Ramadan fasting period.
Following the objections, the National Assembly amended Clause 28 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, reducing the mandatory notice period for elections from 360 days to 300 days, thereby enabling INEC to revise the timetable.
On Thursday, the electoral body, in a schedule signed by its Chairman, Joash Amupitan, rescheduled the Presidential and National Assembly elections to January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly elections were moved to February 6, 2027.
Reacting to the changes, the ADC argued that the requirement for political parties to submit a comprehensive digital membership register by April 2, 2026, effectively disqualifies many opposition parties from fielding candidates.
The party pointed to Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates the submission of digital membership registers ahead of party primaries slated for between April 23 and May 30, 2026.
According to the ADC, the roughly 34-day window to comply with the digital registration requirement makes participation nearly impossible for parties that had no prior notice.
Citing Section 77(7), the party noted that failure to submit the register within the stipulated timeline would render a party ineligible to nominate candidates.
It further referenced Sections 77(2) and 77(6), which stipulate that the digital register must contain detailed information including names, gender, dates of birth, addresses, states, local governments, wards, polling units, National Identification Numbers and photographs, and bars the use of older registers that do not meet these specifications.
The ADC alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress had commenced a fresh membership registration drive as far back as February 2025, long before the digital requirement became compulsory, thereby giving it what the opposition party described as an unfair head start.
According to the statement, democratic competition requires a level playing field, and any framework that allows one party to leverage incumbency to secure procedural advantages undermines the integrity of the electoral process.
The party also disclosed that it has joined other opposition groups in rejecting the Electoral Act 2026 and the revised INEC timetable, maintaining that the framework appears tailored to advance what it termed a “self-succession agenda.”
It added that it would not take steps that could legitimise what it considers a flawed system and is currently reviewing its options.
The ADC called on civil society organisations, democratic actors and the general public to interrogate the revised timetable and insist on fairness, warning that democracy cannot thrive where electoral rules are perceived to predetermine outcomes.
