The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has formally rejected the revised 2026–2027 electoral timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), claiming that it contains “boobytraps” aimed at excluding opposition parties and ensuring a smooth path for President Bola Tinubu’s return in the 2027 general elections.
The party made the announcement on Thursday through a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, and warned that the revised timetable, combined with new compliance requirements, threatens the democratic process by favoring the ruling party.
According to the ADC, the timetable introduces new requirements under Sections 77 and 82 of the Electoral Act 2026 that impose strict obligations on political parties, particularly opposition groups.
The party highlighted that INEC now requires all political parties to submit comprehensive digital membership registers by April 2, 2026. This deadline precedes party primaries, scheduled to run between April 23 and May 30, 2026.
The ADC described the timeline as “an almost impossible hurdle” for opposition parties, potentially preventing them from fielding candidates in the 2027 elections.
Section 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026 specifies that any party failing to submit its membership register within the prescribed period “shall not be eligible to field a candidate.” The ADC argued that this provision is exclusionary rather than administrative, and could be used to disqualify parties on technical grounds rather than on legitimate political performance.
The law also requires extensive personal information in the digital register, including members’ full details, National Identification Numbers (NIN), and photographs. Existing membership registers that do not meet these specifications cannot be used, forcing opposition parties to start from scratch under strict deadlines.
The ADC alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had already been compiling its digital membership register since February 2025, giving it nearly a year-long head start.
“This is a clear misuse of incumbency,” the statement said. “Democratic competition is based on a level-playing field. A system that gives one party a year-long advantage over others is rigged and corrupt.”
By contrast, opposition parties now have only a few weeks to meet the same requirements, a process the ADC described as almost impossible to complete effectively.
The opposition party said it has joined other political parties in rejecting the Electoral Act 2026, which it described as “corrupted,” and by extension, the revised INEC timetable derived from the Act.
The ADC emphasized that it would not participate in or legitimize what it called a fraudulent electoral framework. The party is reportedly reviewing its legal and political options and promised to announce its next steps in the coming days.
In addition to rejecting the timetable, the ADC called on civil society groups, electoral stakeholders, and Nigerians across party lines to carefully scrutinize the INEC timetable and demand fairness.
“Democracy cannot survive if electoral rules are designed to produce predetermined outcomes,” Abdullahi said. The party urged Nigerians to pay attention to how electoral rules are applied, warning that an uneven playing field undermines public confidence in elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the revised 2026–2027 electoral timetable in response to provisions in the Electoral Act 2026. The timetable outlines deadlines for party primaries, membership submissions, and other preparatory steps for general elections, including the presidential poll.
While INEC has described the schedule as necessary for orderly conduct of elections, opposition parties like the ADC argue that the compliance requirements place undue burdens on smaller or less resourced parties.
The ADC statement accused the government and the ruling party of using legal frameworks to entrench political advantage. By mandating extensive digital registration and linking compliance to eligibility, the party said the process could exclude competitors without openly violating electoral laws.
“Digital registration, while intended to strengthen the electoral system, must not be weaponized to prevent parties from participating,” Abdullahi stressed.
The party also highlighted the danger of consolidating power in a way that could lead to one-party dominance, saying such practices weaken democratic institutions and erode public trust in elections.
As the 2027 elections approach, tension is expected to rise between the ruling party and opposition groups over the fairness of the electoral process. ADC and other opposition parties are reportedly exploring legal challenges and possible public campaigns to pressure INEC and the government to revise the timetable or extend deadlines for compliance.
