The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has started checking how 105 political parties plan to pick their candidates for the 2027 General Election. All 105 fully registered parties submitted certified nomination rules by the November 6 deadline. The commission now has 14 days to decide whether the rules comply with the law.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon announced the review in a statement on Wednesday. The commission called the submissions a significant milestone in its preparations for the August 10, 2027 polls, The Star reported. Section 27(2A) of the Elections Act requires the review.
The commission will examine who is eligible to run, how parties will nominate candidates and how members take part. It will also check gender inclusion, the representation of special interest groups and how parties will settle nomination disputes. Capital FM noted that dispute resolution often decides who finally secures the party ticket.
IEBC warned parties not to read too much into the handover. "The receipt of the nomination rules does not constitute approval or a determination of their compliance with the applicable legal framework," the commission said. It added that each party's compliance status will be decided only when the review ends.
Parties whose rules pass will receive certificates of compliance. Where the commission finds gaps, it will point out what needs to change. It will then direct the parties to amend their rules under the Elections Act, according to The Star and The Eastleigh Voice.
The process follows timelines IEBC published earlier. The Registrar of Political Parties had to certify the rules by October 30, before parties handed them to the commission. Under Section 27(1) of the Elections Act, parties must submit nomination rules at least six months before candidates are nominated. Only fully registered parties could take part, so those without full registration by the deadline were left out.
The commission said compliant rules are essential for transparency, fairness, inclusivity and accountability in party nominations. It said the rules protect the rights of party members and aspiring candidates. IEBC pledged to keep working with parties and other stakeholders to support credible nominations ahead of 2027.