Digital Registers, Result Transmission Stir Fresh Political Tensions
Parties Race to Comply as New Electoral Rules Tighten
Nigeria’s political landscape is entering another season of recalibration as parties restructure their strategies to meet the stringent requirements of the Electoral Act 2026.
At the centre of the debate are new provisions mandating digital membership registers and detailed timelines for party primaries ahead of next year’s elections. While some parties are racing to comply, others insist the law and the election timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) tilt the playing field.
Section 77(2) of the Act requires every political party to maintain a comprehensive digital register containing members’ names, biometric details, polling units and National Identification Numbers. Parties must submit the register at least 21 days before their primaries. Failure to comply could mean disqualification from fielding candidates.
Compliance Versus Protest
The All Progressives Congress (APC) completed its digital registration exercise last month. Meanwhile, the Tanimu Turaki faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced a three-week nationwide digital membership drive.
However, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Action Democratic Party (ADP) have raised objections.
ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi described the submission deadline — 2nd April 2026 — as a “deliberately constructed barrier,” arguing that it leaves opposition parties with barely a month to comply before primaries begin between 23 April and 30 May.
The ADC further alleged that the ruling party began compiling its digital register long before the law came into force, effectively giving it a one-year head start.
ADP National Chairman Yabagi Sani echoed similar concerns, warning that compressed timelines could disadvantage emerging political platforms and erode public confidence.
INEC Pushes Back
INEC officials have dismissed the criticism. National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna said parties should already have functional membership structures and that the timeline is sufficient for serious political organisations.
“That is the law of the land,” he said, noting that INEC cannot deviate from statutory provisions.
Haruna admitted, however, that the commission itself faces operational challenges, including delayed release of funds and the need to procure additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.
“I cannot tell you the election will be glitch-free,” he said cautiously, adding that revalidation of the voter register is also planned.
Electronic Transmission: Legal Ambiguities Surface
Beyond party registration, fresh concerns are emerging over provisions on electronic transmission of results.
At a roundtable organised by Yiaga Africa, former INEC National Commissioner Festus Okoye and other ex-officials identified drafting inconsistencies in the Act. Section 60 mandates electronic transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), yet a proviso recognises the manually signed Form EC8A as the primary collation document.
Okoye warned that embedding specific technologies like BVAS in law may create long-term rigidity, arguing that legislation should grant INEC discretion to adopt evolving technologies.
Former ICT Director Chidi Nwafor insisted BVAS was designed as a comprehensive platform capable of secure data storage and later synchronisation even where network connectivity is weak.
“The greatest obstacle to electoral technology is not technical weakness but political resistance,” he said.
Political Crossfire
APC chieftain Osita Okechukwu dismissed opposition fears as “scaremongering,” insisting the 2026 Act improves upon the 2022 version by expressly mandating electronic transmission while providing fallback safeguards.
He argued that the law had undergone extensive stakeholder consultations during its amendment process in October 2025, questioning why critics failed to raise objections earlier.
Unresolved Questions
As compliance deadlines approach, the political stakes are rising. Opposition parties are weighing legal and strategic options, while INEC remains bound by the statute.
Whether the Electoral Act 2026 strengthens electoral integrity or deepens mistrust may depend less on its text and more on its implementation — and on whether political actors adapt in time.
