The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday presented a revised draft of its 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, inviting political parties to review the document and offer suggestions aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan said the updated framework was designed to align with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and address shortcomings identified in earlier regulations.
Amupitan stressed that credible elections begin long before voting day, noting that the integrity of the electoral process depends heavily on how political parties select their candidates.
“We are gathered not only to discuss the newly drafted INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2026, but also to reaffirm our shared commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process,” he said.
“Credible elections begin long before polling day; they begin in the transparency of the processes that produce the candidates.”
According to the INEC chairman, the revised document followed a comprehensive review of the 2022 regulations and drew on empirical findings, including insights from the Political Party Performance Index, a project supported by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy.
He said the review uncovered what he described as a “disturbing gap between party constitutions and the realities at the grassroots level.”
Amupitan explained that the updated guidelines introduce reforms across several areas, including political party registration and mergers, internal administration, conduct of party primaries, campaign activities, financial transparency, and procedures for deregistration.
He said the reforms were particularly targeted at improving the conduct of party primaries, which have often been criticised for lacking transparency.
“These guidelines are designed to sanitise party primaries and eliminate opaque processes that impose unpopular candidates, which in turn fuel voter apathy and unnecessary litigation,” he said.
The INEC chairman also highlighted provisions relating to campaign financing, noting that the Electoral Act 2026 empowers the commission to determine limits on election expenses in consultation with political parties.
He urged political stakeholders to carefully study the sections dealing with funding and expenditure, emphasising the need for accountability and transparency.
With the 2027 general elections scheduled for January 16 for the presidential and National Assembly polls, and February 6 for governorship and state assembly elections, Amupitan warned that the commission is working within a tight timeframe.
“We are operating within a compressed timetable, which demands what I call surgical precision,” he said.
He also disclosed that the draft regulations include measurable benchmarks aimed at improving the participation of women, youths and persons with disabilities in the political process.
Calling for constructive engagement from stakeholders, Amupitan urged political parties to see the guidelines not as restrictions but as safeguards designed to strengthen democracy.
“By sharpening these rules, we are protecting the sovereign will of the Nigerian people from the stage of candidate nomination to the final declaration of results,” he said.
He further reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to neutrality in the electoral process.
“INEC remains a neutral umpire, but we are no longer passive observers to the erosion of democratic values,” he added.
However, concerns were raised by political parties over certain provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
In his remarks, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr Yusuf Dantalle, warned that unresolved issues in the law could undermine the credibility of the 2027 elections if not addressed promptly.
“Critical issues, if not urgently addressed, could jeopardise the success of the 2027 General Election,” Dantalle said.
He argued that the law had fallen short of the expectations of Nigerians, describing it as a step backward for the country’s democratic development.
“Rather than advancing our democratic journey, it represents a significant regression,” he stated.
Dantalle said many Nigerians had expected a more inclusive and citizen-focused electoral framework but criticised provisions he claimed place undue pressure on political parties, particularly those outside government.
He specifically faulted the mandatory direct primaries requirement for political parties, insisting that the choice of candidate selection methods should remain an internal matter.
“The choice of candidate selection methods remains an internal affair of political parties,” he said, urging the National Assembly to restore indirect primaries as an option.
The IPAC chairman also described as impractical the requirement for parties to submit membership registers containing National Identification Numbers (NINs) within a limited timeframe, saying the provision could exclude many members.
He further called for mandatory electronic transmission of election results, warning against a repeat of past controversies that have undermined public confidence in elections.
“This is a fundamental demand of the Nigerian people,” he said.
Dantalle also emphasised the need for stronger measures to combat electoral malpractice, including the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to prosecute violations.
He stressed that rebuilding public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system must remain a priority.
“The credibility of the commission is at stake, and public confidence depends on the assurance that every vote will count,” he said, adding that the international community would be closely watching Nigeria’s 2027 elections.