ADC faults INEC, says revised 2027 election timetable ‘boobytrapped’ to favor Tinubu

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) updated 2026–2027 electoral timetable, warning that it contains “boobytraps” designed to favor the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

In the revised timetable announced on Thursday, the presidential and National Assembly elections, initially set for February 20, 2027, have been rescheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2027. Similarly, the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday, February 6, 2027.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC raised strong concerns over Sections 77 and 82 of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandate political parties to maintain a comprehensive digital membership register and submit it to INEC 21 days before primaries, congresses, or conventions. The party argued that this requirement disproportionately advantages the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which had begun its registration exercise as far back as February 2025.

Abdullahi noted that political parties are required to submit their digital membership registers to INEC by April 2, 2026, just weeks before the primaries scheduled between April 23 and May 30, 2026. He described the deadline as “a near-impossible hurdle” for opposition parties, potentially disqualifying them from fielding candidates.

The ADC further criticised the exhaustive data requirements in the digital register, which must include members’ names, sex, date of birth, addresses, state, local government, ward, polling unit, National Identification Number (NIN), and photographs in both hard and soft copies. Section 77(6) prohibits using pre-existing registers, leaving opposition parties with limited time to comply.

“Democratic competition is based on a level-playing field. A system where one party has a year-long head-start while others are given just weeks is rigged and corrupt,” the statement read.

The ADC also reaffirmed its opposition to the 2026 Electoral Act, calling on civil society, democratic stakeholders, and patriotic Nigerians to scrutinize the timetable and demand fairness.

The party warned that it would not take any action that could legitimize what it described as a “fraudulent system” and promised to announce its next steps in the coming days.

Join Very Nigerian WhatsApp Channel
For Verified Breaking News, Exclusive Reports, Trending Stories, And Real-time Updates.
CLICk HERE TO JOIN!