MCE FAULTS INEC’S 2026 ELECTORAL GUIDELINES, CALLS FOR URGENT REFORMS

The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission over its newly released 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, describing them as overly bureaucratic, impractical, and inadequate to ensure credible elections ahead of 2027.

In a statement issued 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 democratic system.

While acknowledging that the guidelines reflect some effort to improve transparency—particularly in the conduct of party primaries—MCE maintained that these intentions fall short of addressing the deeper challenges facing Nigeria’s electoral process.

The group expressed concern over what it termed regulatory overreach into the internal affairs of political parties, cautioning that excessive interference in party primaries could undermine freedom of association and weaken internal party democracy.

MCE also criticised the requirement for political parties to submit comprehensive membership registers, including National Identification Numbers, within a limited timeframe. It described the directive as unrealistic and exclusionary, noting that many Nigerians are yet to be enrolled in the national identity database.

Additionally, the group raised alarm over the “compressed timetable” acknowledged by INEC itself, warning that rushed processes could lead to errors, disputes, and increased litigation, ultimately eroding public confidence in the electoral system.

A major concern highlighted in the statement is the lack of clarity regarding the electronic transmission of election results. MCE described this omission as a significant setback, stressing that real-time result transmission is crucial to restoring trust in elections.

The group further pointed to weak enforcement mechanisms, arguing that without accountability for electoral offences, the guidelines risk being ineffective.

Key Recommendations

MCE called for immediate 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 activities
• Enhanced voter education, particularly among young Nigerians
• Stronger security measures to curb voter intimidation

The group warned that Nigeria stands at a critical democratic juncture, emphasising that the credibility of the 2027 general elections will depend not on the volume of regulations, but on transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability.

MCE urged INEC to move beyond what it described as cosmetic reforms and take decisive steps to rebuild public trust, cautioning that failure to do so could deepen voter apathy and further weaken the nation’s democracy.

By James Ezema