IEBC sets Thursday deadline for parties ahead of 2027 polls

IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon /HANDOUTThe Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has directed political parties intending to participate in the 2027 general election to submit the names and specimen signatures of their authorised officials by Thursday, October 15.

In a notice issued on Wednesday, the commission said the submissions must be made at Anniversary Towers, South Tower, seventh floor, between 8am and 5pm.

The deadline is the first major compliance requirement under the electoral agency’s schedule for the next general election, with parties expected to meet the prescribed timelines as preparations for the contest gather pace.

The IEBC has warned, through its election calendar, that political parties must comply with the requirements within the stipulated periods as it prepares to oversee the August 10, 2027 polls.

The constitution provides for a general election on the second Tuesday of August every fifth year, a requirement that leaves the commission with limited room to accommodate administrative delays.

The election date has also been the subject of a legal dispute after the High Court recently ruled that the next election should have been held in August 2026. However, implementation of the decision was suspended to avert a constitutional crisis.

Under the IEBC schedule released on August 25, the next key milestone falls on October 30, when political parties are expected to have their nomination rules certified by the Registrar of Political Parties.

The rules are intended to guide the selection of candidates and ensure that party nominations comply with the Constitution and electoral laws.

They must clearly outline the procedures for selecting candidates, including competitive primaries, direct nominations or consensus, as well as timelines and mechanisms for resolving internal disputes.

Parties are also required to conduct nominations using a certified membership register obtained from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to prevent unauthorised participation by non-members.

The IEBC schedule further requires political parties to submit their certified nomination rules to the commission by November 6, 2026.

Rules that have not been certified or fail to meet statutory requirements cannot be accepted for purposes of clearing candidates to contest in the election.

Another significant deadline is February 10, 2027, when public officers seeking elective positions must resign from public office.

The timelines place political parties on notice to complete their internal preparations early, as failure to comply with the electoral requirements could complicate their participation in the 2027 General Election.