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The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has issued a strongly worded rejection of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s draft 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, warning that the framework, as currently designed, could deepen voter apathy and threaten the survival of multi-party democracy in Nigeria.
In a press statement released on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, and signed by its Head of National Secretariat, Olawale Okunniyi, the group declared that “while the framework reflects some attempts at reforms, it falls far short of the structural transformation required to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections.”
The group acknowledged INEC’s intention to improve transparency, particularly in party primaries, but stressed that “good intentions cannot substitute for sound policy design,” adding that “the current guidelines, as presented, are overly bureaucratic, operationally unrealistic, and dangerously silent on the most critical elements of electoral credibility.”
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Overregulation and Threat to Party Autonomy
MCE raised alarm over what it described as excessive interference in the internal workings of political parties. According to the statement, “the guidelines represent a troubling expansion of regulatory overreach into the internal affairs of political parties,” warning that “by attempting to rigidly regulate candidate selection processes, INEC risks undermining the constitutional right to freedom of association and eroding internal party democracy rather than strengthening it.”
The group aligned itself with concerns raised by political stakeholders, noting that “the imposition of restrictive frameworks—particularly around primary elections—could trigger avoidable disputes, weaken party structures, and further alienate grassroots participants from the democratic process.”
“Impractical and Exclusionary” Requirements
The Movement was particularly critical of the requirement for political parties to submit detailed membership registers, including National Identification Numbers (NINs), within a limited timeframe.
Describing the provision as fundamentally flawed, MCE stated: “The requirement… is not only impractical but fundamentally exclusionary.”
It further warned that “in a country where millions of eligible citizens still remain outside the national identity database, such provisions risk disenfranchising legitimate party members and disproportionately disadvantaging smaller parties,” concluding emphatically that “this is not reform—it is systemic exclusion disguised as electoral reforms.”
Concerns Over Compressed Timetable
MCE also expressed serious reservations about the timeline within which INEC intends to implement the guidelines. The statement noted that “INEC’s admission that it is operating within a ‘compressed timetable’ raises serious red flags,” insisting that “electoral integrity cannot be achieved under administrative pressure.”
The group cautioned that “complex processes such as party primaries, candidate verification, and compliance audits require adequate time to ensure accuracy and fairness,” warning that “rushed timelines will inevitably produce errors, shoddiness, disputes, and litigation—further eroding public trust in the process.”
Silence on Electronic Transmission of Results
One of the most critical concerns raised by the group was what it described as the “continued ambiguity and silence” regarding electronic transmission of election results.
MCE described this omission as unacceptable, stating that it is “most alarming,” and stressing that such transmission “remains the single most critical demand of the Nigerian electorate and a decisive factor in rebuilding electoral trust in Nigeria.”
The statement further declared that “any regulatory framework that fails to unequivocally guarantee real-time, transparent, and verifiable transmission of results from polling units cannot be taken seriously as a tool for electoral credibility.”
Weak Enforcement and Culture of Impunity
On enforcement, the group argued that the guidelines lack the necessary mechanisms to ensure compliance. It observed that “the guidelines speak extensively about compliance but are silent on enforcement,” warning that “without a robust mechanism for investigating and prosecuting electoral offences, these regulations risk becoming yet another set of rules that are routinely violated without consequence.”
Reiterating a longstanding demand, MCE called for “the immediate establishment of an independent Electoral Offences Commission to ensure accountability and deter malpractice.”
Voter Apathy and Loss of Public Trust
The statement also addressed the growing problem of voter disengagement, describing it as a direct consequence of systemic failures.
According to MCE, “the most damning indictment of Nigeria’s electoral system is the growing wave of voters apathy,” adding that “this is not merely a behavioural issue—it is a rational response to a system widely perceived as compromised.”
The group emphasised that “Nigerians will not participate in elections unless they are convinced that their votes will count and will be protected,” noting that the current guidelines “do not provide a credible pathway to reverse” this trend.
Call for Urgent Reforms
In its recommendations, the Movement called on INEC to undertake immediate corrective measures, including guaranteeing transparency through “mandatory electronic transmission of results in real time” and ensuring “public access to polling unit-level results and audit trails.”
It also advocated for stronger enforcement mechanisms, reforms to the regulatory approach, and deliberate efforts to restore public confidence through “radical transparency” and “verifiable technology with independent oversight.”
On voter participation, MCE urged authorities to “guarantee that every vote counts through transparent result management,” improve election-day logistics, expand voter education, and “ensure security and eliminate voter intimidation.”
Nigeria at a Democratic Crossroads
Concluding the statement, the group warned that the country faces a defining moment in its democratic journey.
“Nigeria stands at a critical democratic crossroads,” the statement read, stressing that “the credibility of the 2027 general elections will not be determined by the volume of regulations issued, but by the integrity, transparency, and inclusiveness of the electoral process.”
It further cautioned that “INEC must understand that public trust is not commanded—it is earned through consistent, verifiable action,” urging the Commission to “go beyond cosmetic reforms and undertake the bold, structural changes necessary to guarantee that the will of the Nigerian people prevails.”
The group warned that “anything short of this will further deepen electoral distrust and electoral apathy in Nigeria.”
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