The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Senate of plotting to rig the 2027 general elections and compromise its outcome by refusing to accommodate the mandatory electronic transmission of results in the Electoral Act.

The party described the 10th Senate’s decision as retrogressive and called on all Nigerians to reject it.

The party also called on the Conference Committee on the Electoral Act to reject the Senate’s submission and urged the Committee to pass amendments that align with democratic principles and truly reflect the will and aspirations of the Nigerian people.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party expressed disappointment at the decision of the APC-led 10th Senate to reject key reforms to the Electoral Act aimed at improving the credibility of future elections and enhancing the efficiency of INEC.

It describes the actions as a deliberate attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democracy, specifically faulting the Senate’s refusal to allow the electronic transmission of election results and its rejection of provisions for electronic voter card downloads.

The party also faulted the Senate’s decision to shorten the notice periods for elections and the timelines for the publication of the list of candidates.

According to the ADC, the Senate’s actions reveal the ruling party’s fear of free and fair elections in 2027, despite its political dominance.

The statement said: “The African Democratic Congress, ADC, strongly condemns the decision of the 10th APC-led Senate to reject critical provisions that would have strengthened the credibility, transparency, and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.

“Foremost among these is the rejection of electronic transmission of election results, a move that clearly signals yet another attempt by the APC to undermine the will of the Nigerian people and manipulate future elections.

“The Senate also voted against key reforms that would have allowed for the electronic download of voter cards from the INEC website, reduced the notice period for elections, and shortened the timeline for the publication of candidates from 150 days to 60 days.

“Proposed provisions were intended to provide the necessary safeguards against electoral abuse and to restore voter confidence in the electoral process. But what the Senate has done amounts to tampering with the laws to expand opportunities for rigging and foist logistical nightmares on INEC that will make future elections even less efficient.”

The party continued, “The net sum of this disgraceful action is that the APC has exploited its majority status in the National Assembly to tamper with the law and lay the ground for all manner of malpractice.

“Nigerians are well aware that the APC is mortally afraid of subjecting themselves to a free and fair elections because of the unprecedented suffering that they have visited on ordinary Nigerians, but no one expected them to go this far in mutilating our nation’s electoral laws.”

The party said that by rejecting critical reforms meant to improve the conduct of elections, the APC has betrayed its lack of confidence and shown its desire to cling to power by all means, including legislative tampering.

“At this critical moment, all well-meaning Nigerians must hold the APC accountable for actions that continue to weaken democracy and erode public trust in our electoral system.

“As Nigeria’s leading opposition party, the ADC unequivocally condemns this retrogression of the Nigerian Senate and calls on all Nigerians to reject it.

“We also call on the Conference Committee on the Electoral Act to reject the Senate’s submission. We urge the Committee to pass amendments that align with democratic principles that truly reflect the will and aspirations of the Nigerian people.”