The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned the National Assembly to reconsider its proposed changes to shift the 2027 general elections to November 2026, cautioning that such a move would jeopardize governance.
In a statement released on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party contended that moving the election date forward would trap Nigeria in an endless campaign cycle, reduce the effective governance period, disrupt development planning, and further diminish institutional focus.
The ADC called on lawmakers to abandon the proposal and instead focus on genuine electoral and judicial reforms that would ensure credible elections and the timely resolution of disputes without compromising governance stability.
Read also:
ADC dissolves exco, inaugurates new leaders in Imo
2023 Presidency: ADC to unveil running-mate on Wednesday
Uzamere dumps PDP, likely to join ADC
The complete statement read: “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken note of the National Assembly’s proposal to amend the Constitution to hold the 2027 general elections in November 2026.
“While we recognize the stated intention to allow more time for resolving election petitions before a new administration takes office, the ADC believes that this amendment could create more significant issues for Nigeria’s democracy than it aims to address.
“By reducing the current political calendar by six months, the proposal risks plunging Nigeria into a state of constant campaigning, where politics overshadows governance and development is indefinitely stalled.
“In practical terms, elections in November 2026 would mean that campaigns could commence as early as 2025. This would leave less than two years of actual governance before the political distractions take over.
“Public officials, including the President, ministers, and governors, would shift their focus from governance to campaigning, leading to stalled policies and abandoned projects, with the entire system leaning towards 2026 rather than 2027.
“Even without these amendments, we can observe the current APC government’s impact on a nation where the administration prioritizes power over the people’s welfare.
“Even under the existing schedule, the current structures at both state and federal levels are already engaged in campaigning.
“In this context, moving the elections earlier would only exacerbate this unhealthy trend and reduce our democracy to mere electioneering.
“If the aim of the proposed amendment is to ensure that election petitions are resolved before inaugurations, the solution is not to shorten tenures or hasten the electoral process.
“The focus should be on strengthening our institutions by enforcing strict timelines for tribunals, reforming electoral laws, and enhancing the capabilities of the judiciary and INEC.
“Other democracies have demonstrated that it is possible to maintain fixed electoral timelines while ensuring swift resolution of disputes.
“For example, in Kenya, the Supreme Court is required to resolve presidential election disputes within a specific timeframe.”
