By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-chief)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled a comprehensive review of its Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, declaring that Nigeria cannot approach the 2027 General Election with an outdated regulatory framework.
Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, made this known on Tuesday at a consultative meeting with political party leaders held at the INEC Conference Room, Abuja, where the Commission presented the newly drafted INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2026, for stakeholders’ input.
Prof. Amupitan explained that the review followed a rigorous technical retreat by the Commission earlier this month and was undertaken to align the 2022 Regulations with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. “We cannot navigate a 2027 horizon using a 2022 map,” he said, underscoring the urgency of recalibrating the regulatory framework in view of the new legal regime and compressed electoral timelines.
With the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections fixed for February 6, 2027, the Chairman noted that the reduction in statutory timelines under the Electoral Act 2026 demands what he described as “surgical precision” from both the Commission and political parties. He reiterated that credible elections begin long before polling day. “They begin in the transparency of the processes that produce the candidates,” he stated.
According to him, the revised draft covers critical areas central to party administration and electoral integrity, including registration and merger of parties, internal party operations, conduct of primaries, campaign activities, party finance and election expenses, and conditions for deregistration. Particular attention, he said, was paid to Section 93(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which empowers the Commission to determine election expenses for political parties in consultation with them. He urged parties to carefully consider specific clauses relating to expenses for the management of party primaries and the conduct of elections.
Prof. Amupitan further disclosed that the review was guided by empirical findings from the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI), developed with the support of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, which highlighted gaps between party constitutions and grassroots realities. He added that measurable benchmarks have been embedded in the draft to promote the participation of women, youth and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
“Our aim is to sanitise party primaries and end the era of opaque processes that impose unpopular candidates, fuel voter apathy and generate avoidable litigation,” the Chairman said. He urged party leaders to see the draft regulations not as a restriction but as a safeguard. “INEC remains a neutral umpire, but we are no longer passive observers to the erosion of democratic values. Together, let us build an electoral ecosystem where the rules are clear, the playing field is level, and the outcome is beyond reproach.”
Prof. Amupitan assured stakeholders that the consultative meeting was designed as a platform for constructive input. “Let us approach this consultation with the rigour our democracy deserves,” he said. “Together, we can enhance the integrity of our political processes and uphold the democratic ideals we all cherish.”
In his response, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, called for urgent amendments to the Electoral Act 2026, describing aspects of the law as regressive and a potential hindrance to preparations for the 2027 General Election. While affirming the commitment of political parties to credible elections, Dantalle expressed concern that certain provisions of the Act have placed immense pressure on parties, particularly those outside government.
He faulted the mandatory direct primaries provision, insisting that the choice of candidate selection method should remain an internal affair of political parties. He also described the requirement for submission of party membership registers, including members’ National Identification Numbers (NIN), within a limited timeframe as impractical and potentially exclusionary. IPAC further demanded the restoration of mandatory electronic transmission of results to the IReV portal immediately after announcement at polling units, stronger penalties for vote buying, and the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission.
“The prevailing trust deficit and voter apathy will persist unless decisive steps are taken to reform the current electoral framework,” Dantalle warned, noting that the international community is closely observing Nigeria’s democratic trajectory ahead of 2027. NNL.
