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Legislators

National Assembly's Proposed Election Amendment Sparks Governance Concerns

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed deep concerns about the National Assembly's proposed amendment to hold the 2027 general elections in November 2026, fearing it may truncate governance, destabilize development plans, and plunge Nigeria into endless electioneering cycles. According to ADC's National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the move would accelerate the campaign season, reducing time for real governance and disrupting development programs across federal and state administrations. He emphasized that the solution lies in institutional and judicial electoral system reforms, citing global examples such as Kenya, Indonesia, Ghana, and South Africa, which ensure timely petition resolutions without changing the timing of general elections or inaugurations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The National Assembly's proposed amendment seeks to hold the 2027 general elections in November 2026, which may truncate governance, destabilize development plans, and plunge Nigeria into endless electioneering cycles.
  • ADC warns that the move would accelerate the campaign season, reducing time for real governance and disrupting development programs across federal and state administrations.
  • The ADC spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, emphasized that the solution lies in institutional and judicial electoral system reforms.
  • Other democracies like Kenya, Indonesia, Ghana, and South Africa ensure timely petition resolutions through efficient courts without changing the timing of general elections or inaugurations.
  • Kenyan constitution allows 14 days for resolving presidential election petitions, while Ghana and Indonesia also follow strict timelines to maintain both governance stability and electoral justice.
  • ADC urged the National Assembly to drop the amendment plan and instead pursue comprehensive electoral reform to secure credible elections and fast-track election-related judicial processes.
  • The proposed amendment also aims to give enough time for the disposal of election litigations before the swearing-in of declared winners.
  • The amendment proposes reducing the 180 days of tribunal judgment to 90 days, the 90 days expected of judgment by the Appellate Court to 60 days up to the Supreme Court, which would not exceed 185 days.
  • The proposed amendments include continuous registration, mandatory electronic transmission of election results, non-compulsory use of permanent voters' card, and others.

Statistics:

  • The proposed amendment seeks to hold the 2027 general elections in November 2026, which is 18 months before the scheduled date.
  • ADC warns that the move would reduce time for real governance by 6 months, from 2-3 years to 1-2 years.
  • The proposed amendment aims to give enough time for the disposal of election litigations before the swearing-in of declared winners, within a timeframe of 185 days.
  • The proposed reduction of tribunal judgment to 90 days would accelerate the disposal of election petitions, while the reduction of Appellate Court judgment to 60 days would further expedite the process.

Sources:

  • Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary, African Democratic Congress (ADC)
  • Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balogun
  • News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

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