Group Knocks Nigerian Commission INEC’s 2026 Election Guidelines, Warns Of Threat To Multi-Party Democracy

A civil society organisation, the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE), has strongly criticised the 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing them as overregulated, impractical, and incapable of guaranteeing credible elections ahead of 2027.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the group warned that key provisions in the guidelines could alienate grassroots voters, stifle smaller political parties, and worsen voter apathy across Nigeria.

The statement, signed by the Head of its National Secretariat, Olawale Okunniyi, said although INEC appeared to show intent to improve transparency, particularly in party primaries, the framework failed to address the deeper structural issues undermining electoral integrity.

“The current guidelines, as presented, are overly bureaucratic, operationally unrealistic, and dangerously silent on the most critical elements of electoral credibility,” the group said.

MCE accused INEC of regulatory overreach, arguing that attempts to rigidly control internal party processes could undermine freedom of association and weaken internal democracy within political parties.

It also backed concerns earlier raised by the Inter-Party Advisory Council, noting that restrictive frameworks around party primaries could trigger disputes and disconnect grassroots participants from the democratic process.

The group further faulted the requirement for political parties to submit detailed membership registers, including National Identification Numbers (NINs), within a limited timeframe, describing the measure as exclusionary.

“In a country where millions of eligible citizens remain outside the national identity database, such provisions risk disenfranchising legitimate party members and disproportionately disadvantaging smaller parties,” the statement added.

MCE also raised concerns over what INEC described as a “compressed timetable” for implementation, warning that rushed processes could lead to errors, disputes, and litigation that may further erode public confidence.

The organisation expressed particular alarm over what it called INEC’s silence on the electronic transmission of election results, describing it as a critical gap in rebuilding trust in Nigeria’s electoral system.

“Any regulatory framework that fails to unequivocally guarantee real-time, transparent, and verifiable transmission of results from polling units cannot be taken seriously,” it said.

On enforcement, the group said the guidelines lacked clear mechanisms to address electoral offences, warning that without accountability, the rules risk being routinely violated.

It reiterated its call for the establishment of an independent Electoral Offences Commission to investigate and prosecute electoral crimes.

The group also linked Nigeria’s growing voter apathy to widespread distrust in the electoral system, noting that the guidelines failed to provide a convincing roadmap to reverse the trend.

“Nigerians will not participate in elections unless they are convinced that their votes will count and will be protected,” it stated.

MCE called on INEC to urgently review the guidelines, recommending mandatory electronic transmission of results, flexible compliance requirements, extended timelines, and broader stakeholder engagement.

It also urged the commission to adopt open data systems, strengthen voter education, improve election-day logistics, and ensure voter security.

“Nigeria stands at a critical democratic crossroads,” the group warned, adding that the credibility of the 2027 general elections would depend on transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability — not the volume of regulations issued.

The organisation cautioned that failure to implement meaningful reforms could deepen electoral distrust and further weaken Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.