The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the revised 2026–2027 electoral timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The opposition party alleged that the commission structured it to exclude opposition parties from the 2027 general elections.
In a statement on Friday, signed by its national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the timetable as a political instrument rather than a routine administrative schedule.
The ADC directly accused President Bola Tinubu of seeking to use the new framework to clear the field ahead of 2027.
Digital Register Deadline
The ADC specifically challenged the compliance requirements under Sections 77 and 82 of the Electoral Act 2026.
INEC fixed party primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026. However, the Act requires parties to submit their digital membership registers by April 2, 2026.
The ADC argued that this timeline forces opposition parties to compile, process and transmit extensive membership data within weeks.
The party pointed to Section 77(7), which provides that any party that fails to submit its register within the stipulated time “shall not be eligible to field a candidate.”
“These are not housekeeping rules,” the statement said. “They are barriers designed to exclude opposition parties.”
Stringent Data Requirements
The ADC further criticised the detailed conditions set out in Section 77(2). The law compels parties to include members’ names, sex, date of birth, address, state, local government, ward, polling unit, National Identification Number, and photograph in both hard and soft copies.
In addition, Section 77(6) prohibits parties from using any pre-existing register that does not meet those specifications.
The ADC warned that the law empowers INEC to disqualify any party that fails to meet these conditions.
Alleged Head Start for APC
The party also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of beginning its digital membership registration in February 2025, months before the law formally imposed the requirement.
According to the ADC, the ruling party used its incumbency to secure a one-year head start. Meanwhile, other parties must now complete the same exercise within a compressed timeframe.
“This is not foresight,” the statement said. “This is insider knowledge.”
The ADC described the deadline as a practical impossibility for opposition parties.
Demand for Level Playing Field
The party, therefore, demanded a level playing field. It insisted that democracy requires equal rules for all contestants.
“A system that gives one party a one-year head start is rigged,” the statement added.
The ADC confirmed that it has joined other opposition parties in rejecting the Electoral Act 2026.
It also rejected the revised INEC timetable, arguing that both instruments work together to restrict democratic competition.
