Our Reporter, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fixing February 20, 2027, for the Presidential and National Assembly elections, describing the early release of the timetable as a positive step for democratic preparation.
In a statement on Friday, the party said the early timetable provides political parties, stakeholders and the electorate with clarity for long-term planning ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, the ADC cautioned that the credibility of the elections would not be determined by the timeliness of the schedule alone, but by INEC’s commitment to transparency, technological integrity and strict adherence to due process throughout the electoral cycle.
The party identified real-time electronic transmission of results as a critical issue requiring urgent clarification, noting that while INEC has pledged to operate within the law, the current Electoral Act leaves room for procedural discretion in areas that directly affect public confidence.
Referencing recent media engagements by the INEC Chairman, the ADC noted his acknowledgement of the Commission’s technological capacity to deploy electronic transmission of results and his assurance that technology would continue to play a role in elections. The party therefore urged INEC to provide early and unambiguous assurances to Nigerians on its readiness to adopt real-time electronic transmission, should the necessary legal amendments be enacted.
Beyond result transmission, the ADC called on the Commission to clearly outline the manual and electronic safeguards that would be deployed to protect the integrity of results management and prevent a recurrence of irregularities observed in some recent off-cycle elections.
The party also renewed its call on the National Assembly to urgently pass a binding legislative framework that removes ambiguities around electronic transmission of results and strengthens the legal architecture for transparent and credible elections.
“Nigerians have consistently shown readiness to defend the sanctity of their votes,” the statement said, adding that what is now required is for the electoral umpire to match that civic vigilance with institutional clarity, operational transparency and administrative excellence.
The ADC reaffirmed its commitment to democratic deepening, pledging to continue engaging constructively with INEC, the National Assembly and other stakeholders to ensure that the 2027 general elections reflect the true will of the Nigerian people.
Ikengaonline had reported that INEC on Friday released the election timetable for the 2027 general election.
