The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Senate of deliberately delaying passage of the Electoral Bill 2025 to undermine reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party, in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Saturday, warned that delayed amendments to the Electoral Act 2022 posed serious compliance and eligibility risks if not passed on time.
“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is deeply concerned by the continued prevarications by the National Assembly over the 2025 Electoral Bill, saying failure to promptly pass the bill for urgent presidential assent raises suspicions that the legislature, dominated by the APC ruling party, is deliberately applying delay tactics to frustrate key amendments, especially those intended to make future elections more difficult to rig,” the party said.
It said mandatory electronic voter accreditation and result transmission were minimum safeguards for credible polls in 2027 and must not be sabotaged by legislative delays.
According to ADC, the new requirements demand adequate time for parties and INEC to understand the provisions, warning that unclear guidelines can become traps for opposition parties.
“Lack of clarity as to the electoral guidelines would not only serve as booby traps for opposition political parties but also make it difficult for INEC to prepare sufficiently and set clear guidelines within the stipulated time,” ADC stated.
The party particularly cited the provision that requires INEC to publish notices on elections not later than 360 days before the general elections, saying it remained extant.
“The implication of this is that even now, there is very little time left for adjustments,” it said.
The party, therefore, called for swift passage, warning that further delays might endanger the 2027 general elections.
(NAN)