By Achile Danjuma
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has officially launched a free, nationwide online membership registration portal, marking a significant step in its digital transformation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement released on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, announced that the new platform, accessible at www.adcregistration.ng, is now live. Existing members are also required to revalidate their details on the portal to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the new Electoral Act 2026 and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The move comes in response to INEC’s revised election timetable. After initially scheduling the elections for dates that fell within the 2027 Ramadan period, INEC was compelled to make adjustments. This followed an amendment to the Electoral Act by the Nigerian Senate, which reduced the mandatory election notice period from 360 to 300 days.
INEC subsequently released an updated schedule, moving the Presidential and National Assembly elections to January 16, 2027, and the Governorship and State Assembly polls to February 6, 2027.
A key requirement of the new timetable is the submission of a comprehensive digital membership register by all political parties to INEC by April 2, 2026. The ADC’s new registration exercise is a direct response to this mandate.
The party clarified that while the online registration offers a new, streamlined pathway, its manual registration drive, which commenced last month, will continue concurrently across the country.
In its statement, the ADC emphasized the mandatory nature of the new portal for all members wishing to participate in future party activities. “Accordingly, only individuals whose membership details are fully captured and verified in the Party’s official digital register will be eligible to vote or be voted for in the Party’s primaries,” the statement read.
The party highlighted the dual purpose of the digital drive: meeting legal requirements and broadening its grassroots appeal. “Since the launch of the physical and grassroots membership exercise in February, we have recorded strong interest from Nigerians across states and the diaspora. Apart from meeting legal requirements, the introduction of the free online option is designed to remove barriers to entry, simplify enrolment, and ensure that every eligible Nigerian who wishes to identify with the ADC can do so seamlessly and securely,” the party noted.
Crucially, the ADC stressed that the revalidation process is not optional for existing members. “Members who have registered on the Party’s previous platform are also required to revalidate their membership on the new digital portal, as additional mandatory information is now required to ensure full compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.”
The party also called on support groups and associations to utilize the new portal, describing the onboarding process as straightforward.
While proceeding with the registration, the ADC used the opportunity to reiterate its opposition to certain aspects of the new electoral framework. “ADC would like to emphasise that this exercise is without prejudice to our firm objections to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 that give undue advantage to the ruling party, as well as the consequential INEC timetable,” the statement affirmed.
Concluding its announcement, the party reiterated its long-term vision: “The African Democratic Congress remains committed to building a modern, inclusive, and citizen-driven political movement capable of delivering credible leadership and a better Nigeria that works for all.”