The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised alarm over what it describes as potentially restrictive compliance requirements embedded in the revised electoral timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The ADC pointedly said that the INEC timetable has succeeded in introducing technical obligations that may significantly shape which political parties are able to effectively participate in the 2027 electoral process.
These were contained in a statement by Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the Party in which he noted that central to the controversy is the requirement under the Electoral Act 2026 mandating political parties to submit fully digitalised membership registers within a specified period.
While INEC has insisted that the provision is aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability, the ADC argued that the timeline may disproportionately affect smaller and mid-sized parties lacking advanced digital infrastructure.
It said that an analysis of party structures suggests that compliance with nationwide digital membership verification requires extensive data collection systems, trained personnel, and financial resources; capacities more readily available to larger, well-funded political parties.
Political observers are however of the view that while digital reforms are widely regarded as necessary for modern electoral integrity, the speed and sequencing of implementation as being pursued by INEC could influence competitive balance if not carefully managed.
The ADC said that INEC position was necessitated and predicated on a dominant political party that commenced digital structuring of their membership databases well before the public release of the timetable, thereby raising questions about equal preparedness across the political spectrum.
Even though no direct evidence has been presented to substantiate claims of preferential advantage, the decision by INEC has sparked wider debate within political circles about regulatory neutrality.
Accordingly, election law monitors noted that the key issue is not digitalisation, but if the transition timeline provided sufficient opportunity for all registered parties to comply without exclusionary consequences.
INEC is yet to issue a formal response to the concerns raised by the ADC, but the Commission had defended its reform agenda as part of efforts to deepen transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral system.
The development is most likely to intensify as political activities gradually build toward 2027, just as the dispute underscores a broader national conversation on how to modernise electoral processes without narrowing democratic participation.
