The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the National Assembly of deliberately dragging its feet on electoral reforms, warning that continued delays could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued Saturday, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s national publicity secretary, said the failure to transmit the 2025 Electoral Act Amendment Bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent fuels suspicions of a calculated attempt to weaken electoral accountability.
According to the ADC, the legislature—dominated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—is stalling reforms designed to tighten compliance standards and improve transparency in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The party cautioned that several proposed amendments impose new eligibility and compliance obligations on political parties, stressing that late passage would leave insufficient time for proper implementation and risk creating administrative chaos.
ADC further warned that ambiguities in the law could become “booby traps” for opposition parties, while also constraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from issuing clear and timely guidelines.
It highlighted the provision requiring INEC to publish election notices at least 360 days before a general election, noting that the clock is already ticking dangerously close to the 2027 polls.
“The longer this bill is delayed, the greater the threat to electoral integrity,” the statement said, adding that Nigeria cannot afford another disputed election cycle marked by legal battles and public distrust.
The party called on the National Assembly to pass the bill without further delay and urged civil society groups, international partners, and pro-democracy stakeholders to intensify pressure on lawmakers.
The ADC’s concerns echo similar warnings by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who recently accused the Senate of intentionally stalling the amendment process.
Although Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele had pledged in January to fast-track the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, ADC said actions, not assurances, would determine whether the 2027 elections are free, fair, and credible.
ADC Raises Alarm Over ‘Calculated’ Delay of Electoral Reforms Ahead of 2027
