2027: ADC Accuses APC of Electoral Act Violation

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sharply criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for allegedly flouting Nigeria’s electoral laws by launching early re-election campaigns for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, nearly two years ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC accused the APC of brazenly disregarding the provisions of the Electoral Act. The party pointed to recent billboards, rallies, and endorsements for Tinubu’s second-term ambition as clear violations of the legal timeframe stipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which prohibits campaign activities until 150 days before the polls.

“For several months, APC organs have staged rallies and erected billboards endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term. These theatrics brazenly ignore the Electoral Act and the fresh warning issued by INEC,” Abdullahi stated. He further noted that such premature politicking undermines Nigeria’s democratic institutions and calls into question the APC’s commitment to the rule of law.

ADC: Campaigns Are Misplaced Amid Worsening Economic Woes

Beyond the legal breach, the ADC expressed dismay that the APC is prioritising electioneering over governance at a time when Nigerians are burdened by unprecedented economic hardship. The party lamented the deepening cost-of-living crisis, saying the premature campaigns are a stark reminder of the government’s misplaced priorities.

Abdullahi highlighted the devastating impact of inflation and currency depreciation under the Tinubu administration. “Headline inflation reached nearly 35 percent in December 2023 and remains above 22 percent today,” he said. “The naira has plunged from N461 to over N1,500 to the dollar since Tinubu assumed office, eroding household incomes and business stability.”

The ADC also pointed to skyrocketing fuel prices as a major pain point for citizens. “Petrol that once sold for N185 per litre before subsidy removal now averages more than N1,000, turning every journey to work or market into an exercise in anguish,” Abdullahi stated. According to the party, these figures reflect a government out of touch with the daily struggles of Nigerians.

Security Situation Worsening Under APC, ADC Alleges

The ADC did not spare the Tinubu administration on the issue of security, condemning what it described as a “national emergency spiralling out of control.” The party described the alarming frequency of kidnappings, banditry, and mass killings as evidence of a nation in distress while the government focuses on re-election.

“Kidnapping has become an industry,” the party stated, citing credible data indicating over 3,132 security-related killings between April and June 2024 alone. “Nigerians are being abducted at an industrial scale while President Tinubu chases after adoption for a second term,” Abdullahi remarked.

The ADC also took aim at the deteriorating condition of Nigeria’s security infrastructure, arguing that the APC-led government has failed to implement any comprehensive or effective strategy to protect citizens, particularly in rural and conflict-prone regions. The statement noted that growing insecurity continues to hinder agricultural production, education, and investment.

Power Failures, Debt Crisis and Democratic Backsliding

The ADC further criticised the APC’s handling of the power sector, highlighting persistent national grid collapses and unreliable electricity supply. It said these failures reflect broader issues of administrative incompetence and neglect.

“Recurring grid collapses have become the norm, not the exception. Businesses are suffering, homes are dark, and yet the government has no concrete plan to resolve the crisis,” the statement read. The party also raised alarm over Nigeria’s ballooning public debt, citing World Bank projections that debt servicing now exceeds total federal revenue—a situation it called “economically suicidal.”

Additionally, the ADC condemned the administration’s perceived efforts to muzzle the press and stifle dissent. “Under the APC, Nigerians are hungry, sick, and scared. Instead of finding real solutions to these problems as they promised to do, the government has been busy building an army of digital propagandists and illusion creators,” Abdullahi alleged.

Call for Sanctions and a Refocus on Governance

In closing, the ADC demanded that the APC immediately halt its early campaign activities and redirect its focus to the urgent task of governance. The party urged INEC and other relevant authorities to enforce electoral laws and sanction any violations to prevent a dangerous precedent.

“Every political billboard is a billboard of illegality and should be removed,” Abdullahi insisted. He stressed that Nigeria cannot afford another cycle of leadership focused on power retention over meaningful progress.

The ADC vowed to remain a watchdog for democracy, promising to hold the government accountable both in public discourse and, ultimately, at the ballot box. “The people deserve a government that is solving problems, not chasing shadows. When the time comes, Nigerians will respond accordingly,” the party concluded.