Back to Sender: Court Verdict on INEC Timetable Will Dismantle APC, Put Them in Their Trap — ADC
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said the recent Federal High Court ruling nullifying parts of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s guidelines for the 2027 general elections could trigger a wave of defections from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The opposition party stated this on Thursday while reacting to the court judgment which voided aspects of INEC’s regulations concerning deadlines for party primaries and membership registration.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the ruling as a validation of the concerns it earlier raised over what it termed restrictive provisions in the electoral body’s guidelines.
According to the party, it had objected to the timelines introduced by INEC, arguing that they were inconsistent with constitutional and electoral provisions.
“The decision of the court on these issues, including those that directly contradict the Constitution, is therefore a welcome vindication of our position,” the statement read.
The ADC argued that the court ruling would strengthen freedom of association by removing barriers that could prevent politicians from contesting elections on alternative political platforms.
“We believed at the time that the particular restriction was designed to prevent people from leaving the ruling party, APC.
“Now that the court has ruled against it, we are sure that, in the coming days, we will witness a mass exodus from the ruling party,” Abdullahi stated.
The party welcomed the judgment and expressed optimism that the ruling would deepen democratic participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Federal High Court had earlier nullified key portions of the timetable and schedule of activities released by Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2027 elections, ruling that the electoral body exceeded its powers by shortening timelines expressly provided for under the Electoral Act 2026.
Under the timetable, political parties were directed to conduct their primaries within a compressed timeframe ahead of the presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and state assembly elections scheduled for February and March 2027.
INEC had also fixed deadlines for submission of candidates’ particulars, replacement of candidates, publication of final lists, and the end of campaigns outside the statutory periods stipulated by law.
However, the court ruled that the deadlines were inconsistent with the Electoral Act.
It further held that political parties retain the right to withdraw and replace candidates up to 90 days before an election, stressing that INEC lacked the authority to impose an earlier deadline.