Election Watchdog Criticizes INEC's 2026 Guidelines, Warns of Voter Exclusion
The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has launched a scathing critique of the Independent National Electoral Commission's newly released 2026 regulations and guidelines for political parties. The group has described the framework as overregulated, impracticable, and insufficient to guarantee credible elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Structural Shortcomings and Public Confidence
In a statement issued yesterday and signed by its Head of National Secretariat, Olawale Okunniyi, MCE acknowledged that while the guidelines reflect some reform efforts, they fall short of the structural changes required to restore public confidence in Nigeria's electoral system. The group noted that good intentions cannot substitute for sound policy design, pointing out that the framework remains overly bureaucratic and silent on critical elements of electoral credibility.
Threats to Internal Party Democracy
MCE warned that the guidelines represent an expansion of regulatory control into the internal affairs of political parties, which could undermine the constitutional right to freedom of association and weaken internal party democracy. Aligning with concerns raised by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), the group stated that restrictive provisions around primary elections could:
- Trigger disputes within political parties
- Weaken party structures and organization
- Alienate grassroots participants from the political process
Exclusionary Membership Requirements
The election watchdog particularly faulted the requirement for political parties to submit comprehensive membership registers, including National Identification Numbers (NINs), within a short timeframe. MCE described this provision as unrealistic and exclusionary, noting that millions of Nigerians remain outside the national identity database. According to the group, such requirements could:
- Disenfranchise legitimate party members
- Disproportionately affect smaller political parties with limited resources
- Create barriers to political participation for marginalized communities
Compressed Timetable and Result Transmission Concerns
MCE raised serious concerns about INEC's admission of operating within a compressed timetable, warning that rushed processes could lead to errors, disputes, and litigation that would ultimately undermine electoral credibility. The group described as most alarming the lack of clear provisions mandating the electronic transmission of election results, a key demand by many Nigerians in recent electoral cycles.
The movement argued that any framework that fails to guarantee real-time, transparent, and verifiable transmission of results cannot rebuild public trust in the electoral process. They emphasized that without these safeguards, the 2027 elections risk being marred by the same controversies that have plagued previous electoral cycles.
Court Dismisses Related Legal Challenge
In a related development, the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday dismissed a suit filed by human rights lawyer Ejime Okolie against INEC and 19 political parties. Okolie had challenged the alleged imposition of outrageous Expression of Interest and nomination fees for card-carrying members vying for political offices.
Justice Binta Nyako, in her judgment, dismissed the suit because the issue raised fell extremely within the internal affairs of political parties. According to Justice Nyako, the fact that fees charged by a political party are too high does not amount to a constitutional wrong, and the court would not interfere in such cases.
The MCE's criticism comes at a crucial time for Nigeria's electoral system, as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections. The group has called for urgent revisions to the guidelines to ensure they promote rather than hinder democratic participation and electoral integrity.
