The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the revised 2026–2027 electoral timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that it contains “boobytraps” designed to exclude opposition parties and pave the way for President Bola Tinubu’s unopposed return in the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC faulted new compliance requirements introduced under Sections 77 and 82 of the Electoral Act 2026, saying they impose unfair burdens on opposition parties while conferring undue advantage on the ruling party.

According to the ADC, INEC’s timetable mandates political parties to submit comprehensive digital membership registers by April 2, 2026, ahead of party primaries scheduled to hold between April 23 and May 30, 2026.

The party said the timeline creates an “almost impossible hurdle” that could prevent opposition parties from fielding candidates.

The ADC noted that Section 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026 provides that any party that fails to submit its membership register within the stipulated period “shall not be eligible to field a candidate,” a provision it described as exclusionary rather than administrative.

It further argued that the law prescribes extensive data requirements for the digital register, including members’ personal details, National Identification Number (NIN) and photographs, and prohibits the use of any pre-existing register that does not meet these specifications. Failure to comply, the party said, would result in disqualification.

The opposition party alleged that the ruling party had begun compiling the required digital register as far back as February 2025, giving it a significant head start.

The ADC claimed this amounted to insider advantage and a misuse of incumbency, as other parties are now expected to complete the same process within a matter of weeks.

“Democratic competition is based on a level-playing field,” the statement said, adding that a system that gives one party a year-long advantage over others is “rigged and corrupt.”

The ADC said it has joined other opposition parties in rejecting what it described as a “corrupted” Electoral Act 2026 and, by extension, the revised INEC timetable derived from it.

The party warned that it would not take any step that could legitimize what it called a fraudulent electoral framework, noting that it is reviewing its options and would announce its next steps in the coming days.

The party also called on civil society groups, democratic stakeholders and Nigerians across party lines to scrutinize the timetable and demand fairness, warning that democracy cannot survive if electoral rules are designed to produce predetermined outcomes. (Daily Trust)

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