ADC Raises Alarm Over Delay In Passing 2025 Electoral Bill

Nigeria’s opposition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused the APC-dominated National Assembly of deliberately delaying the passage of the 2025 Electoral Bill, warning that continued postponement could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party expressed deep concern over what it described as persistent prevarications by the Senate and House of Representatives, raising suspicions of calculated efforts to stall key electoral reforms.

According to the ADC, several proposed amendments to the Electoral Act 2022 introduce new eligibility and compliance requirements that political parties and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must fully understand and implement.

The party warned that passing the bill too late would create serious risks, particularly for opposition parties, and could leave INEC without adequate time to issue clear and effective guidelines.
The ADC stressed that provisions mandating electronic voter accreditation and electronic transmission of election results are minimum requirements for credible elections and should not be weakened through legislative delays or filibustering.

The party also highlighted that the existing requirement for INEC to publish election notices at least 360 days before a general election remains in force, noting that time for preparation and compliance is already running out.

“Failure to promptly pass the bill for presidential assent raises suspicions that the legislature is deliberately delaying key amendments, especially those intended to make future elections more difficult to rig,” the statement said.

The ADC warned that vague or rushed electoral guidelines could become “booby traps” for political parties while also complicating INEC’s operational readiness.

Calling for urgent action, the party urged the National Assembly to pass the bill without further delay, stating that any postponement would undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

The ADC further appealed to civil society organisations, international partners, and pro-democracy stakeholders to pressure the National Assembly to act swiftly, insisting that Nigeria cannot afford another contentious or questionable election cycle.