The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the National Assembly to fast-track the passage of the Electoral Bill 2025, warning that further delays could undermine essential electoral reforms and jeopardize the credibility of the 2027 elections.
In a statement on Saturday, ADC Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi accused the APC-led Senate of dragging its feet on the bill and cautioned against weakening or delaying crucial reforms, including electronic voter accreditation and results transmission.
On Thursday, the Senate set up a seven-member ad hoc committee to review, harmonize, and streamline senators’ contributions to the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act. The initiative is part of renewed efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The committee’s formation followed a three-hour closed-door executive session where lawmakers studied the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, currently under consideration by the National Assembly.
Announcing the development, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the committee will consolidate lawmakers’ positions and resolve pending issues in the amendment process. The panel is chaired by Niyi Adegbonmire, head of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters.
Reacting to the development, the ADC expressed deep concern over what it called persistent delays by the National Assembly on the 2025 Electoral Bill, warning that the slow pace raises fears the APC-led legislature may be stalling vital amendments aimed at preventing election manipulation.
The party stated, “The ADC also notes that some of the proposed amendments have introduced new compliance and eligibility requirements that need to be properly understood and met by political parties. Failure to allow sufficient time to understand the provisions of the new law, beyond what is publicly available as proposals, has serious consequences for both political parties and the INEC. Lack of clarity regarding the electoral guidelines would not only serve as booby traps for opposition political parties but also make it difficult for the INEC to prepare adequately and set clear guidelines within the stipulated time.
“For example, the provision requiring INEC to publish election notices not later than 360 days before the general election remains extant. The implication is that even now, there is very little room for maneuver.
“The ADC therefore calls on the National Assembly to promptly pass the bill. Any further delays pose a serious risk to the integrity of the 2027 general elections and undermine the integrity of the entire electoral process well in advance. Nigeria cannot afford the cost of another acrimonious or dubious election.
“The ADC also urges civil society organisations, international partners, and all political parties committed to accountable democratic governance to pressure the National Assembly to act swiftly, as Nigerians cannot afford another election cycle without these critical safeguards in place.”
