By Sepkolin Walne (Journalist)
THE Registry of Political Parties has hosted a 2026 Political Parties workshop under the theme “Securing an Accountable and Inclusive 2027 National General Election.”
The three-day workshop focuses on learning and development for political parties and is supported by the Electoral Commission, the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), and Australian Labor International.
Speaking during a session on the Code of Conduct Review, Registrar of Political Parties Emmanuel Pok emphasized the importance of the code in ensuring good governance.
“The Code of Conduct is very important for the integrity of a good government,” Mr. Pok said.
“It is an initiative of the Electoral Commission and now complements the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates.”
Acting Electoral Commissioner Margaret Vagi also provided a briefing on the 2022 National General Election. She explained that the Code of Conduct had been further refined to strengthen the integrity of the electoral process, promote peaceful campaigning, and ensure orderly elections-drawing on lessons learned from the 2017 elections.
Ms. Vagi noted that 45 out of 53 registered political parties signed the Code of Conduct in 2022, a significant increase from 2017, when only 24 out of 45 parties signed.
“Under the current legal framework, the Code of Conduct is voluntary and non-binding,” she said.
A total of 56 registered political parties participated in the 2022 National General Election.