The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has given explanations for its decision to reject the reviewed 2027 election timetable recently released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking on Monday during an interview with Arise News, the ADC Assistant National Chairman, Usani Usani, stated that the timetable was intentionally designed to favour the ruling party.
Usani submitted that the change in the election timetable was designed to shortchange opposition parties and give undue advantage to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He alleged that the APC, the National Assembly, INEC, and the executive arm of government are colluding to favour the incumbent administration of President Bola Tinubu.
He said, “Our rejection goes beyond just the timetable; it’s about the sanctity of policy. In a system with values, there should be a procedure for making policies that includes public views. This shortened timetable is calculated to shut out certain interests and “shortchange” the system. Those in power have been preparing surreptitiously underground while bamboozling the electorate with a sudden change.
“They are different species of the same animal kingdom—National Assembly, INEC, the Executive, and the APC. They are all in cohort. It is a paradox that the law requires a consensus of all candidates for internal party selections, yet at the national level, the lack of an agent’s signature doesn’t nullify a result. They are treating internal party processes as more valuable than the national election of a president.”
Usani also questioned the ability of INEC under the leadership of Professor Joash Amupitan to deliver credible elections.
“We must wait to see how his conduct compares with Professor Humphrey Nwosu’s role in the 1993 election—which remains the most credible election we’ve had. While the pronouncement is good, I hope he will ‘damn the consequences’ and stay firm under pressure,” he said.
Usani also criticised INEC’s position on electronic transmission of election results, arguing that, “Regarding glitches, they say we ‘can’ transmit electronically, but ‘can’ is a probability, not an assurance. In a country where we send money electronically every day, the inability to transmit votes electronically is a ‘fabric of lying and deceit’ embedded by those who make the laws.”
He warned against encouraging voter apathy, adding that both politicians and Nigerians must work together to ensure good governance.
“Voter apathy should worry everyone because beyond this point, Nigerians may seek ‘self-help’, which would lead to the collapse of the country. While politicians at the top belong to a certain social class, the general electorate has a responsibility. The populace must consciously take action to come out, vote, and protect their votes to guarantee good governance,” he urged.