Electoral commissions in South Africa and Nigeria face key challenges

In South Africa, the Electoral Court has dismissed an appeal by the African National Congress (ANC) regarding the exclusion of 181 candidates from the upcoming local government elections. The candidates, spanning six municipalities in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Free State, were disqualified after the ANC failed to complete the final electronic submission of nominations by the August 28 deadline. While the ANC maintains that information was captured on the system prior to the cutoff, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) stated that formal submission is a required step. The ruling provides certainty for the election timetable, though it may impact the ANC in traditional strongholds.

In Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is preparing for the 2027 general elections. The commission has confirmed 18 presidential candidates, signaling a highly fragmented political landscape. To strengthen electoral processes, INEC is collaborating with the African Union (AU) to improve institutional capacity, technology, and stakeholder engagement.

However, civil society groups have raised alarms regarding the state of Nigerian democracy. The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room warned of rising voter intimidation, political violence, and low institutional trust, noting that only 23% of Nigerians currently trust INEC. These concerns come as international assessments classify the country as an electoral autocracy.