Group slams INEC’s 2026 election guidelines as overregulated ,impractical
CHIGOZIE AMADI
The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) 2026 election guidelines, stating that the document falls short of restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
MCE, however, acknowledged INEC’s efforts and its intention to improve transparency but noted that the guidelines are overly bureaucratic and unrealistic, pointing out that the guidelines may undermine internal party democracy and alienate grassroots participants.
The group stated that the requirement for parties to submit comprehensive membership registers within a short timeframe is impractical and exclusionary, apart from having the potential for disenfranchising legitimate party members and placing smaller parties at huge disadvantage.
MCE questioned INEC’s compressed timetable, saying electoral integrity can not be achieved under pressure.
“Rushed processes may lead to errors, disputes, and litigations, further eroding public trust, the group claimed in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by its Coordinator, Comrade Olawale Okunniyi.
MCE noted with regrets that the guidelines are silent on electronic transmission of results, which it said is a critical demand of Nigerians, stressing that without transparency and verifiability, the guidelines can not guarantee credible elections.
The group also criticised the lack of enforcement mechanisms in the guidelines, saying the guidelines risk becoming unenforceable while further suggesting that an independent Electoral Offences Commission is needed to investigate and prosecute electoral crimes.
“The guidelines failed to address growing voter apathy, a rational response to a perceived compromised system.
MCE demands urgent review and corrective measures.
“MCE calls for mandatory electronic transmission of results, robust enforcement, and reform of regulatory approach to respect party autonomy and ensure inclusivity.”
The organization urged INEC to prioritize transparency, accountability, and voter experience to restore public confidence in the electoral process, warning that Nigeria’s democratic future hangs in the balance; if INEC does not undertake bold, structural changes to guarantee credible elections.
“The guidelines represent a troubling expansion of regulatory overreach into the internal affairs of political parties.
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.
“MCE aligns with the concerns raised by the Inter-Party Advisory Council 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,” the statement concluded.
