2027: Electoral Act delay could create legal traps for parties — ADC

2026-02-04 - 18:09

By Luminous Jannamike ABUJA – The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised the alarm over the National Assembly’s delay in passing the Electoral Act amendments, warning that the situation could expose political parties to technical and legal pitfalls ahead of the 2027 general elections. The party’s position was made known by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, in reaction to the Senate’s failure to conclude work on the 2025 Electoral Act Amendment Bill and transmit it for presidential assent. The ADC said the prolonged delay is not only unsettling but also risky, as the proposed amendments contain provisions that require adequate time for political parties and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fully understand and implement. “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is deeply concerned by the continued prevarications by the National Assembly over the 2025 Electoral Bill, saying failure to promptly pass the bill for urgent presidential assent raises suspicions of deliberate delay tactics to frustrate key amendments meant to make elections harder to rig,” Abdullahi said. According to the party, some of the changes introduce new compliance and eligibility requirements, and rushing their implementation close to an election cycle could have far-reaching consequences. It further cautioned that unclear electoral guidelines could end up working against opposition parties while also limiting INEC’s ability to plan effectively within statutory timelines. “Lack of clarity in the electoral guidelines could become booby traps for opposition parties and hinder INEC’s ability to prepare adequately and set clear rules within stipulated timelines. “The ADC therefore calls on the National Assembly to promptly pass the bill, warning that further delays pose serious risks to the integrity of the 2027 general elections and the entire electoral process,” Abdullahi said. The party also called on key democratic stakeholders to step in and push for urgent legislative action.