By Ismaeel Aleem
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a stern warning to Nigeria’s National Assembly regarding proposed amendments to the Electoral Act that could see the 2027 general elections moved forward to November 2026.
The party argues that such a change risks plunging the country into a perpetual electioneering cycle, undermining effective governance and development.
In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed concerns that advancing the election date would drastically reduce the time available for governance.
“By cutting the current political calendar by six months, the proposal threatens to push Nigeria into a state of permanent electioneering, where politics dominates governance and development is perpetually on hold,” the statement read.
The party highlighted that campaigns could begin as early as 2025, leaving only two years for meaningful governance before political activities overshadow national priorities.
The ADC further cautioned that the proposed shift would disrupt development planning and weaken institutional focus.
It argued that with campaigns starting earlier, public officials, including the president, ministers, and governors, would prioritise political positioning over policy implementation, leading to stalled projects and neglected governance.
The Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2025 seeks to ensure that all election petitions are resolved before the May 29, 2027, handover date.
However, the ADC contends that this objective does not justify truncating tenures or rushing the electoral process.
Instead, it urged lawmakers to focus on strengthening institutions through genuine electoral and judicial reforms.
These include enforcing strict timelines for election tribunals, reforming electoral laws, and enhancing the capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary.
The party also pointed to the current administration’s preoccupation with power as a cautionary example of governance sidelined by political ambitions.
“Even under the current timetable, the incumbent structures are already campaigning,” the ADC noted, warning that moving elections earlier would exacerbate this trend.
The ADC called on the National Assembly to abandon the proposed amendment and prioritise reforms that ensure credible elections and timely dispute resolution without compromising Nigeria’s governance stability.
