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OppositionERegisterDebate2026 as opposition parties raise alarm over mandatory electronic membership registration under Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026, warning it could restrict participation ahead of 2027 elections.
As preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections, opposition parties are expressing concern over the mandatory electronic membership registration introduced under the Electoral Act 2026.
At the center of the dispute is Section 77(4) and related provisions of the amended law, which require all registered political parties to submit their digital membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by April 2, 2026, as a precondition for participation in the elections.
Under the new law, only individuals whose names appear in the submitted register can participate in party primaries, congresses, or conventions.
Opposition leaders argue that the timeline is too tight and the requirements too stringent, placing smaller or less technologically equipped parties at a disadvantage.
ADC Warns of Restricted Democratic Space
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) was among the first to raise concerns, describing the timeline as restrictive and potentially exclusionary.
The party warned that with only weeks left to comply, the requirement could shut out smaller or less prepared parties from the 2027 race.
Other opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), have also expressed reservations about the operational implications of the new law.
The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday to deliberate on the issue amid growing anxiety across party lines.
Analyst Faults Opposition for Lack of Vigilance
Sumner Sambo, Editor for Politics at Arise News, faulted opposition parties for what he described as a lack of vigilance during the legislative process that produced the Electoral Act 2026.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Sambo said opposition lawmakers were “seemingly docile” while the bill was being debated and passed by the National Assembly.
He noted that the amendment process had been public and transparent, with hearings held nationwide, yet opposition parties failed to scrutinize key provisions such as Section 77.
He added that the All Progressives Congress (APC) appeared to have strategically positioned itself by commencing early compliance, while the opposition was now rushing to catch up.
Sambo further explained that the new provision effectively closes the door on last-minute defections, a common feature of Nigeria’s pre-election politics.
Okonkwo: “Democracy in Danger”
Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the ADC, accused the ruling APC of introducing stringent provisions in the Electoral Act 2026 to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking on Arise Television, Okonkwo described the requirement under Section 77 as a threat to democracy, arguing that giving parties less than two months to compile and submit digital registers was unrealistic and restrictive.
He alleged that the provisions were crafted for self-preservation, preventing aspirants who lose primaries from defecting to other parties.
Analyst: APC Outplayed the Opposition
Nduka Odo, a public affairs analyst and communication expert at Peaceland University, Enugu, said the uproar over the e-registration requirement exposed deeper weaknesses within Nigeria’s opposition bloc.
Odo argued that the APC demonstrated strategic foresight by starting its e-registration early, while opposition parties were now reacting too late.
He warned that continued blame games could smooth the path for President Bola Tinubu and the APC in 2027.
He urged opposition parties to comply swiftly with the law and rebuild their structures to remain competitive.
