ADC Rejects INEC Schedule, Claims Bias for Tinubu

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has publicly rejected the revised electoral schedule for the 2026-2027 general elections released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), asserting that it is politically biased in favor of President Bola Tinubu's re-election. Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC's National Publicity Secretary, argued that the new deadlines, which require political parties to submit comprehensive digital membership registers by April 2, 2026, create near-impossible hurdles for opposition parties.

The revised schedule includes presidential elections on January 16, 2027, and governorship elections on February 6, 2027. The ADC claims that the timeline is structured to strengthen the incumbent administration and limit democratic competition.

Additionally, the ADC criticized the requirement for digital membership registration, stating it could disqualify parties that fail to meet the stringent criteria. The ADC has called on civil society organizations and democratic stakeholders to scrutinize the electoral timeline, emphasizing that democracy cannot thrive under rules that produce predetermined outcomes.