The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has cautioned the National Assembly against its proposed constitutional amendment to move the 2027 general elections to November 2026, warning that such a move could undermine governance and development in the country.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party argued that advancing the election date by six months would push Nigeria into a perpetual campaign cycle, shorten the effective period for governance, disrupt national development planning, and further weaken institutional focus.
“The ADC urges the National Assembly to abandon this idea and instead pursue genuine electoral and judicial reforms that guarantee credible elections and timely resolution of disputes without undermining governance stability,” the statement said.
The full statement read in part:
“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has noted the proposal by the National Assembly to amend the Constitution in order to hold the 2027 general elections in November 2026. While we understand the stated intent—to provide more time for the resolution of election petitions before the inauguration of a new administration—the ADC believes that this amendment risks creating deeper problems for Nigeria’s democracy than it seeks to solve.”
According to the party, cutting the political calendar by six months would “push Nigeria into a state of permanent electioneering, where politics dominates governance and development is perpetually on hold.”
The ADC warned that conducting elections in November 2026 means political campaigns would begin as early as 2025, leaving barely two years of effective governance before political distractions take over.
“The President, ministers, governors, and other public officials vying for office or campaigning for others will shift their focus from performance to positioning. Policies will stall, projects will be abandoned, and the entire system will tilt towards 2026 instead of 2027,” the statement continued.
The party accused the current administration of already prioritising politics over governance, arguing that the proposed amendment would only worsen the situation.
“Even without the amendments, we can see with the current APC government what happens when an administration is obsessed with power rather than the welfare of the people. Moving the elections backward will only accelerate this unhealthy trend and reduce our democracy to mere electioneering,” the ADC said.
The party maintained that if the intent of the amendment is to ensure election petitions are concluded before inaugurations, the solution lies in institutional strengthening, not altering the election calendar.
“The answer is not to cut short tenures or rush the electoral process. The solution lies in enforcing strict timelines for tribunals, reforming electoral laws, and improving the capacity of the judiciary and INEC.”
Citing global examples, the ADC pointed to Kenya, Indonesia, Ghana, and South Africa, where courts are constitutionally mandated to resolve electoral disputes within a few weeks.
“These examples show that what Nigeria needs is not an altered election date but a more efficient judicial and electoral system,” the party noted.
The statement concluded:
“The people of Nigeria are not just voters—they are citizens who expect good governance as dividends of democracy. Nigeria cannot afford a system where government campaigns for two years and governs for two.
“The ADC therefore calls on the National Assembly to shelve this amendment and instead focus on comprehensive electoral reform that guarantees credible elections and quick dispute resolution, without making real service to the people appear merely incidental to politics and politicking.”
Ends
