2027: New INEC timetable designed to edge out opposition, ADC alleges

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the revised 2027 general election timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that the new schedule is structured to sideline opposition parties ahead of the polls.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the timetable, alongside provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, creates hurdles that may be too difficult for opposition parties to overcome.

“The rejection of the timetable is only consequential to our rejection of the Electoral Act 2026,” Abdullahi said. “It is very clear when INEC released its timetable that some of the requirements we will need to meet to field candidates for the 2027 elections, as contained in the Act, are almost impossible for us to meet.”

He explained that political parties are required to submit a fully digitalised membership register covering all 36 states within about 32 days while simultaneously notifying INEC of their congresses or conventions.

“What the law expects us to do is that within the next 32 days or so, we will have a digitalised membership register in all the 36 states of the federation that we will be able to submit to INEC while giving them notice of our congresses or conventions. It is almost practically impossible for us to do this,” he stated.

Abdullahi described the requirements as “booby traps” deliberately placed to weaken opposition participation, warning that non-compliance could prevent parties from fielding candidates in the 2027 elections.

“Even in practical terms, these are booby traps set in the path of opposition parties because if you look at the law, it says our failure to comply means we will not be able to field candidates for the election… It is all part of the game plan,” he added.

INEC, however, maintained that the revised timetable was necessary to align with the Electoral Act 2026, signed into law by Bola Tinubu following the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022.

According to INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, the commission adjusted key dates to comply with the new legislation and to address concerns, including the earlier overlap with the Ramadan fasting period.

Under the updated schedule, presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections are slated for February 6, 2027.

Party primaries are scheduled between April 23 and May 30, 2026. Campaigns for presidential and National Assembly candidates will begin on August 19, 2026, while governorship and state assembly campaigns are to commence on September 9, 2026. All campaigns must end 24 hours before election day.

While INEC has urged stakeholders to cooperate to ensure peaceful and credible polls, the ADC insists that the compressed timeline and compliance demands risk undermining fair competition ahead of the 2027 general elections.