By Eteteonline
Opposition parties concentrated on real-time e-transmission of results while the National Assembly was amending the 2022 Electoral Act, neglecting other important aspects of the legislation. They are requesting another revision because they disagree with certain of the Act’s contents.
In order to comply with the criteria of the Electoral Amendment Act 2026, which President Bola Tinubu signed into law on February 18, 2026, registered political parties running in the general elections of 2027 will have a difficult time.
One of the requirements is Section 77(2) of the Act, which requires political parties to provide INEC with a comprehensive digital membership registry at least 21 days before their primaries.
Both hard and floppy copies of the register must include members’ names, sexes, dates of birth, addresses, states, local governments, wards, polling places, national identification numbers, and photos.
Only those members whose names are on the register are eligible to vote and be voted for in party primaries, congresses, and conventions, according to Section 77(5).
According to Section 77(7) of the Act, a party will not be permitted to field a candidate in the 2027 election if the membership register is not submitted within the allotted period.
Political parties have been instructed by INEC to adhere to section 77(2) of the Act by presenting their membership registers by April 21, and holding their primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026.
This new clause has been rejected and denounced by opposition parties, who have called it offensive. They characterize section 77 as a purposefully erected obstacle that can prevent opposition parties from participating in the election process.
The ADC, PDP, and Labour Party have ordered the immediate start of digital membership registration in accordance with section 77 in light of the new provision. Many opposition parties would be unable to take part in the general election in 2027 with less than two months to meet the digital registration criterion.
As of now, only the APC has conducted a drive to register members electronically throughout the 36 states. It initiated member e-registration before the 2026 Act made it mandatory.
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