105 Political Parties Submit their Nomination Rules to IEBC
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has received certified nomination rules from 105 fully registered political parties ahead of the August 10, 2027 General Election.
In a statement signed by the commission’s chairperson, Erastus Edung Ethekon, and issued on Wednesday, IEBC said it had concluded the process of receiving certified nomination rules from the 105 parties, which submitted the documents by the November 6, 2026 deadline.
The commission described the submission as a significant milestone in preparations for the next General Election, saying it would now undertake a comprehensive review to establish whether the rules comply with constitutional and statutory requirements.
The review is expected to be completed within 14 days, as provided for under Section 27(2A) of the Elections Act.
The law requires the electoral commission to examine nomination rules submitted by political parties and either issue certificates of compliance or direct parties to amend provisions that fail to meet the prescribed standards.
IEBC said the assessment would examine several aspects of internal party democracy, including procedures for identifying candidates, eligibility requirements, nomination methods and the participation of party members.
The commission will also assess provisions relating to the representation of special interest groups, gender inclusion and mechanisms for resolving disputes arising from party nominations.
“The review will, among other things, examine the nomination procedures adopted by political parties, including the eligibility requirements for candidates, the methods of nomination, participation of party members, representation of special interest groups, gender inclusion, and the internal mechanisms for resolving nomination disputes,” the statement said.
IEBC cautioned political parties against interpreting the receipt of their documents as an indication that they had already met the legal requirements.
“The receipt of the nomination rules does not constitute approval or a determination of their compliance with the applicable legal framework,” the commission said.
“The compliance status of each political party will be determined upon conclusion of the review.”
The exercise is anchored in Article 88(4)(d) of the Constitution and Section 27 of the Elections Act, which mandate IEBC to regulate the process through which political parties nominate candidates for elections.
Under Section 27(1), political parties are required to submit their nomination rules to the commission at least six months before the nomination of candidates for an election.
For the 2027 elections, IEBC published timelines requiring the Registrar of Political Parties to certify the nomination rules by October 30, 2026, before the parties submitted them to the commission by November 6.
The commission said only fully registered political parties were eligible to submit their nomination rules, meaning parties that had not attained full registration status by the deadline could not participate in the exercise.
IEBC said the rules were critical in safeguarding the credibility of the electoral process because they determine how political parties identify and select candidates for elective positions.
“Compliant nomination rules are essential in promoting transparency, fairness, inclusivity and accountability in political party nominations,” the commission said, adding that they safeguard the participation rights of party members, aspiring candidates and other stakeholders.
Following the review, IEBC will issue certificates of compliance to parties whose rules meet constitutional, statutory and regulatory requirements.
Where shortcomings are identified, the commission will communicate the areas requiring changes and direct the affected parties to make the necessary amendments in accordance with the Elections Act.
The commission pledged to continue engaging political parties and other stakeholders to facilitate compliance and support transparent, fair and credible nominations ahead of the 2027 General Election.