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

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the updated 2026–2027 electoral timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that it contains hidden provisions aimed at paving the way for President Bola Tinubu to seek re-election without viable opposition in 2027.

The party specifically raised concerns over new compliance requirements introduced under Sections 77 and 82 of the Electoral Act 2026, which it says place undue burdens on opposition parties while favouring the ruling party.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC argued that the directive requiring political parties to submit a comprehensive digital membership register by April 2, 2026 — ahead of primaries scheduled between April 23 and May 30, 2026 — presents an almost insurmountable challenge that could prevent other parties from fielding candidates.
According to the party, the requirements contained in the Electoral Act 2026 have effectively transformed what was described as reform into a mechanism for exclusion, allegedly designed to clear the political space for President Tinubu.
The full statement reads:
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) rejects the updated 2026–2027 electoral timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). What has been presented as a routine administrative schedule for the forthcoming general elections is, in reality, a political instrument carefully structured to shrink democratic space and consolidate the position of the incumbent administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The timetable stipulates that party primaries are to be held between April 23 and May 30, 2026 — just 55 to 92 days from now. More importantly, under Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026, political parties are mandated to submit their digital membership registers to INEC no later than April 2, 2026, which is only 34 days away. Section 77(7) further provides that any party that fails to meet this deadline “shall not be eligible to field a candidate for that election.” These provisions, the ADC contends, are not mere administrative guidelines but deliberate obstacles intended to exclude opposition parties from participating in the election.
The party also pointed to Section 77(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which requires that the digital membership register must include each member’s name, sex, date of birth, address, state, local government, ward, polling unit, National Identification Number (NIN), and photograph, in both hard and soft copies. In addition, Section 77(6) prohibits the use of any pre-existing register that does not contain the specified details. Failure to comply, the law states, would lead to disqualification.
The ADC described the digital membership requirement as particularly troubling, noting that the ruling party reportedly began compiling such a register as far back as February 2025, well before it became a legal requirement. According to the party, this suggests prior knowledge of the impending law, giving the ruling party a one-year head start on a process other parties are now expected to complete within a month. It described the expectation as practically impossible, given the need to gather, process, collate, and transmit extensive digital data to INEC within the stipulated timeframe.
The party emphasized that democratic competition depends on a level playing field, arguing that any system that allows one party to leverage incumbency to gain a significant advantage undermines fairness and transparency.
The ADC said it has joined other opposition parties in rejecting what it termed the “corrupted” Electoral Act 2026. Consequently, it declared that the INEC timetable, being anchored on the same law, is equally unacceptable, alleging that both appear tailored to advance President Tinubu’s alleged automatic self-succession agenda.
The party maintained that it would not take any action that could legitimize what it described as a fraudulent system. It said it is currently reviewing its options and will make its position known in the coming days.
The ADC also called on civil society groups, democratic stakeholders, and Nigerians across party lines to critically examine the timetable and demand fairness, warning that no democracy can thrive when its rules are crafted to produce predetermined outcomes.