The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the revised 2026–2027 general election timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), claiming it is politically biased to favor the re-election of President Bola Tinubu. The ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated that the new requirements under the Electoral Act 2026 create almost insurmountable challenges for opposition parties seeking to field candidates. Initially, INEC scheduled the Presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, but adjusted the dates to January 16, 2027, after concerns from stakeholders about the timing coinciding with Ramadan.
The ADC pointed out that the requirement for political parties to submit a comprehensive digital membership register by April 2, 2026, could effectively exclude them from participating in the elections. They criticized the schedule as a deliberate effort to strengthen the incumbent administration by narrowing the democratic space. The ADC argued that such stringent requirements, particularly on digital membership, give an unfair advantage to the ruling All Progressives Congress, which began its registration process much earlier.
The party emphasized that the Electoral Act 2026 is structured to maintain a system that benefits the ruling party and jeopardizes the fairness of the electoral process. They called for scrutiny from civil society organizations and other stakeholders to ensure that the electoral framework is equitable and democratic. The party has joined other opposition groups in rejecting the updated electoral timetable and plans to review its options in response.
