The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the APC-dominated National Assembly of deliberately delaying the passage of the 2025 Electoral Bill, warning that continued postponement could imperil the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement released on Friday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party said the delay raised “serious suspicions” about the legislature’s commitment to electoral reforms aimed at preventing rigging.
“The continued prevarications of the National Assembly over the 2025 Electoral Bill raise suspicions that the legislature, which is dominated by the APC, is deliberately delaying key amendments, especially those intended to make future elections more difficult to rig,” the ADC said.
The party expressed concern that some of the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act 2022 introduce new compliance and eligibility requirements for political parties, stressing that insufficient time to study and implement the provisions could have grave consequences.
“Failure to allow sufficient time to study and implement these provisions could have serious consequences for both political parties and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” Abdullahi said, adding that unclear guidelines could create “booby traps for opposition parties” and complicate preparations by INEC.
The ADC also cited provisions mandating electronic voter accreditation and electronic transmission of results, describing them as the bare minimum for credible elections.
According to the party, the existing requirement for INEC to publish election notices at least 360 days before a general election makes the delay even more troubling.
“Even now, there is very little time left for adequate preparation and compliance,” the statement said.
The party called on the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass the bill without further delay, warning that any postponement could erode public confidence in the electoral process.
“Any postponement risks the integrity of the 2027 general elections and undermines confidence in the entire electoral process. Nigeria cannot afford another acrimonious or dubious election,” the ADC said.
The ADC also urged civil society organisations, international partners and other political parties to bring sustained pressure to bear on the National Assembly to act with urgency.
