The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has cautioned the National Assembly against proposed amendments to the Electoral Act that could move the 2027 general elections to November 2026.
The party warned that such a move would undermine governance and development in Nigeria.
The party issued the warning in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, on Tuesday.
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According to the ADC, advancing the election date would shorten the effective governance period and push the country into a “perpetual campaign mode.”
“By cutting the current political calendar by six months, the proposal threatens to push Nigeria into a state of permanent electioneering, where politics dominates governance and development is perpetually on hold,” the party stated.
The ADC further warned that the proposed shift would cause governance distraction and disrupt long-term planning.
“In practice, elections happening in November 2026 mean campaigns will begin as early as 2025.
That leaves barely two years of real governance before the political noise takes over,” the statement read.
It added that rather than altering the timetable, lawmakers should focus on strengthening institutions to ensure credible elections and timely resolution of disputes.
“If the goal of the proposed amendment is to ensure that election petitions are concluded before inaugurations, the answer is not to cut short tenures or rush the electoral process.
“The solution lies in enforcing strict timelines for tribunals and improving the capacity of the judiciary and INEC,” Abdullahi said.
The party urged lawmakers to withdraw the proposal, warning that rushing elections could further weaken Nigeria’s democratic stability.
