The African Democratic Congress has said the Federal High Court ruling voiding parts of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s regulations for the 2027 elections would trigger a mass defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The ADC stated this on Thursday while reacting to the court judgment on INEC’s guidelines relating to the deadline for party primaries and membership registration.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party described the judgment as a vindication of its earlier objections to some provisions of the electoral body’s guidelines.
According to the ADC, it had raised concerns over what it described as restrictive timelines for party primaries and membership registration when the guidelines were introduced.
“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 party argued that the court ruling would strengthen freedom of association by removing restrictions placed on politicians seeking to contest elections on alternative political platforms.
“We believed at the time that that 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.
ADC said it welcomed the judgment and expressed optimism that the ruling would deepen democratic participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
PUNCH Online had reported that the court on Wednesday nullified key portions of the timetable and schedule of activities released by INEC for the 2027 general elections, ruling that the electoral body exceeded its powers by shortening timelines expressly provided under the Electoral Act, 2026.
Under the timetable released by INEC, political parties were directed to conduct their primaries within a compressed timeframe ahead of the presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and state assembly elections slated for February and March 2027.
The commission had also fixed deadlines for the submission of candidates’ particulars, replacement of candidates, publication of final lists, and the end of campaigns before the statutory periods provided in the Electoral Act.
However, the court held that those deadlines were inconsistent with the law.
It ruled that political parties are entitled to withdraw and replace candidates up to 90 days before an election, adding that the commission lacked the power to impose an earlier deadline.
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