Electoral Act 2026: Ending Party-Hopping and New Penalties

The Electoral Act 2026 builds on the 2022 law to block last-minute defections after party primaries. Parties must submit a digital membership register 21 days before any primary. No new names are allowed once INEC “freezes” the register. The law also bans multiple nominations and imposes prison terms of up to two years for anyone who tries. Candidate substitution is only allowed for death or written withdrawal, and parties must hold fresh primaries within 14 days. Registering in more than one party now carries a fine of at least ₦100,000 or one year in jail. INEC will sync your party membership with your NIN data. Any candidate whose name isn’t on the April register can’t run in 2027. INEC’s revised timetable aligns with these rules. Key deadlines include register submission (April 1–21, 2026) and party primaries (April 23–May 30). The new law forces politicians to pick one party at least nine months before election day.

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