 has warned the National Assembly against advancing Nigeria’s 2027 general elections){kind=link}
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned the National Assembly against advancing Nigeria’s 2027 general elections to November 2026, cautioning that the proposal could destabilise governance and trap the nation in an endless campaign cycle.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said that while the amendment aims to allow more time for the resolution of election petitions before inauguration, it risks creating greater harm to democratic governance.
Abdullahi argued that shifting the polls six months earlier would shorten the effective period for governance, disrupt long-term development planning, and weaken institutional focus.
“If campaigns for the 2027 elections begin in 2025, Nigeria will effectively have only two years of governance before politics takes over,” he said. “Public officials will focus more on electoral positioning than on delivering results.”
The ADC maintained that the answer to Nigeria’s electoral challenges lies not in adjusting the political calendar but in strengthening the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to handle disputes swiftly and transparently.
Citing examples from Kenya, Indonesia, Ghana, and South Africa, the party noted that other democracies have adopted strict judicial timelines that ensure quick adjudication of electoral matters without disrupting governance.
“The solution is not to cut short tenures or rush elections,” Abdullahi added. “What Nigeria needs is institutional efficiency that guarantees credible elections and timely justice.”
The party warned that Nigeria cannot afford a system where governance takes the back seat to perpetual politicking, stressing that citizens expect results, not rhetoric.
“Nigerians deserve governments that govern for four years, not two years of governance and two years of politics,” the statement read.
The ADC therefore urged the National Assembly to shelve the proposal and focus on comprehensive electoral and judicial reforms that ensure stability, credibility, and good governance.