Opposition Parties Concerned Over New Electoral Registration Law

The mandatory electronic membership registration requirement introduced by the Electoral Act 2026 has caused significant concern among opposition parties in Nigeria, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), People's Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party (LP). These parties argue that the timeline for compliance, which requires political parties to submit their digital membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by April 2, 2026, is too tight and poses financial and structural challenges.

Sumner Sambo, editor of Political Arise, highlighted the lack of vigilance among opposition parties regarding the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) convened a meeting to discuss these issues amid growing anxiety across party lines.

The new law is seen as a potential barrier for smaller parties, raising fears of exclusion from the electoral process. The opposition has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of having prior knowledge of the compliance requirements, which could disadvantage them in the upcoming elections.