MCE Faults INEC 2026 Electoral Guidelines
The Movement for Credible Elections, MCE, has strongly criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission’s newly released 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, describing them as overregulated, impractical, and insufficient to guarantee credible elections ahead of 2027.
In a statement issued today in Abuja and signed by its Head of National Secretariat, Olawale Okunniyi, the group warned that the guidelines could alienate grassroots voters and weaken Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.
The MCE acknowledged that INEC’s guidelines show some intention to improve transparency, especially in the conduct of party primaries. However, the group insists that good intentions alone are not enough
According to the statement, the guidelines are overly bureaucratic and fail to address the most critical issues affecting electoral credibility in Nigeria.
The group expressed concern over what it described as regulatory overreach into the internal affairs of political parties. It warned that excessive control of party primaries could undermine freedom of association and weaken internal party democracy rather than strengthen it.
MCE also faulted the requirement for political parties to submit detailed membership registers, including National Identification Numbers, within a short timeframe. It described this as unrealistic and exclusionary, noting that millions of Nigerians are yet to be captured in the national identity database.
The group further raised alarm over what INEC itself called a “compressed timetable,” warning that rushed electoral processes could lead to errors, disputes, and increased litigation, thereby undermining public trust.
Most critically, the Movement condemned the continued lack of clarity on the electronic transmission of election results. It described this omission as a major setback, stressing that real-time transmission of results remains central to restoring confidence in Nigeria’s elections.
The statement also highlighted weak enforcement mechanisms, noting that without accountability for electoral offences, the guidelines risk becoming ineffective.
Key Demands:
The Movement for Credible Elections is now calling for urgent reforms, including:
Mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results
Public access to polling unit results and audit trails
Establishment of an independent Electoral Offences Commission
More flexible and realistic compliance requirements for political parties
Extended timelines for electoral processes
Improved voter education, especially among young Nigerians
Stronger security measures to prevent voter intimidation
The group warned that Nigeria is at a critical democratic crossroads, stressing that the credibility of the 2027 general elections will depend not on the number of regulations issued, but on transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability.
MCE urged INEC to go beyond what it called cosmetic reforms and take bold steps to restore public trust in the electoral process.
It warned that failure to do so could further deepen voter apathy and weaken Nigeria’s democracy.
By James Ezema
