ADC WARNS DELAY IN ELECTORAL BILL COULD JEOPARDISE 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS

ADC WARNS DELAY IN ELECTORAL BILL COULD JEOPARDISE 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS


The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised fresh concerns over delays in the passage of the Electoral Bill 2025, warning that prolonged legislative bottlenecks could weaken electoral reforms and threaten the credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the bill, describing the slow pace as a potential risk to the integrity of the country’s democratic process.

The ADC specifically accused the APC-led Senate of stalling critical amendments designed to strengthen transparency in elections, including provisions on electronic voter accreditation and electronic transmission of election results.

The warning comes amid recent developments in the Senate, where lawmakers on Thursday inaugurated a seven-member ad hoc committee tasked with reviewing, harmonising, and streamlining proposed amendments to the Electoral Act. The committee was set up following a closed-door executive session that reportedly lasted over three hours.

Announcing the committee’s inauguration, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the panel would consolidate lawmakers’ positions and resolve outstanding issues surrounding the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill currently before the National Assembly. The committee is chaired by Senator Niyi Adegbonmire, who also heads the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

Despite the move, the ADC maintained that the delay in passing the bill raises serious concerns, suggesting that key reforms meant to curb electoral malpractice could be weakened or abandoned.

According to the party, several proposed amendments introduce new compliance and eligibility requirements for political parties, which require adequate time for proper understanding and implementation.

“The failure to pass the Electoral Bill early enough has serious implications for political parties and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” the ADC stated. “Lack of clarity in the law could create avoidable compliance traps for opposition parties and make it difficult for INEC to prepare and issue clear guidelines within the required timeframe.”

The party also drew attention to existing provisions in the Electoral Act that require INEC to publish notices of elections not later than 360 days before a general election, noting that the timeline leaves little room for further legislative delay.

The ADC warned that continued postponement could undermine public confidence in the electoral process and heighten political tension ahead of 2027.

“Nigeria cannot afford another disputed or acrimonious election,” the statement added. “Any further delay in passing the Electoral Bill poses a serious threat to the integrity of the 2027 general elections and the democratic system as a whole.”

The party further urged civil society organisations, international partners, and political stakeholders committed to democratic accountability to mount pressure on the National Assembly to act swiftly, stressing that the country needs strong electoral safeguards well ahead of the next election cycle.

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