The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has muted a comprehensive review of the commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, as part of measures to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process for a more credible and transparent 2027 General Elections.
The Chairman of the INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, unveiled the comprehensive regulations on Tuesday in Abuja during a meeting with leaders of the nation’s registered political parties.
The meeting was for the review of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2026 and is different from the Electoral Act.
Prof. Amupitan said the revised guidelines are designed to align with the Electoral Act 2026 and address systemic challenges affecting party operations and electoral credibility.
According to him, credible elections begin long before polling day, stressing the importance of transparency in candidate selection processes.
Amupitan said that the updated framework was developed under constitutional provisions and in line with the new electoral law, saying that the nation cannot navigate a 2027 horizon using a 2022 map.
The revised guidelines cover critical aspects of political party administration, including registration and mergers, internal operations, primaries, campaign conduct, finances, and deregistration procedures.
He, however, acknowledged the tight electoral schedule facing stakeholders, noting that presidential and National Assembly elections are slated for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly polls will hold on February 6, 2027.
He noted that the shortened timelines introduced by the Electoral Act 2026 demand a “surgical precision” in planning and execution by both INEC and political parties.
Amupitan said the reforms aim to eliminate opaque practise in party primaries, which he identified as a major driver of voter apathy and post-election litigation.
The new framework also introduces clearer rules for campaign activities, ensuring that rallies and processions are conducted peacefully and with respect for citizens’ rights.
The INEC chairman referenced provisions in the Electoral Act 2026 empowering the Commission to determine election spending limits in consultation with political parties.
He urged party leaders to pay attention to clauses dealing with election expenses, particularly those governing party primaries and campaign financing, noting that transparency in funding is essential for credible elections.
Amupitan disclosed that the review process was informed by empirical findings from the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI), a diagnostic tool developed with support from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy.
The index, he said, revealed a significant gap between party constitutions and grassroots realities, underscoring the need for reforms to bridge the disconnect.
INEC chairman announced that the revised guidelines incorporate measurable benchmarks for the participation of women, youth, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in party activities and electoral processes.
He urged political parties to view the new regulations not as constraints but as safeguards designed to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
He urged stakeholders to engage constructively during the consultation process, assuring that INEC remains committed to neutrality while taking a firm stance against the erosion of democratic values.
“We meet today not merely as regulators and political actors, but as joint custodians of Nigeria’s democratic future,” Amupitan said, noting that the Commission had undertaken a rigorous technical review of the 2022 regulations to reflect current legal and political realities.
“By sharpening these rules, we are protecting the sovereign will of the Nigerian people from the point of nomination to the final declaration of results.
“As you are all aware, these regulations have been formulated under the powers granted to INEC by our Constitution and the Electoral Act and represent a significant review of the regulations made in 2022, now meticulously aligned with the recently enacted Electoral Act of 2026,” Amupitan said.
The INEC boss said the review became necessary because the commission cannot navigate a 2027 horizon using a 2022 map.
“In particular, mention must be made of section 93(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which states that election expenses incurred by a political party for the management or the conduct of an election shall be determined by the Commission in consultation with the political parties.
“Consequently, we would like the political parties to take special note of Clause 40(4) & (5) of the draft regulation dealing with election expenses of political parties for the management of party primaries and for the conduct of elections.
“The Commission has concluded a clause-by-clause realignment of our regulations and guidelines to ensure they are not only legally airtight, but operationally in sync with the new Electoral Act. We hope that these updated guidelines will foster a more transparent, fair, and equitable electoral landscape for all stakeholders involved,” he said.
Commenting on behalf of the registered political parties, the national chairman chairman of IPAC, Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, said that there were critical issues that, if not urgently addressed, could undermine the integrity of the electoral process and jeopardise the success of the 2027 General Election.
According to him, IPAC is duty-bound to draw both national and international attention to evident shortcomings in the current electoral legal framework—shortcomings that have the potential to impede, weaken, and destabilise Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy.
“Nigerians participated actively in the public hearings on the Constitution and Electoral Act amendments, with the expectation that their contributions would culminate in a progressive, inclusive, and people-oriented Electoral Act.
“Unfortunately, the Electoral Act 2026 falls far short of these expectations. Rather than advancing our democratic journey, it represents a significant regression one that must be urgently addressed in the national interest.
“It is particularly concerning that this contentious Electoral Act formed the basis upon which INEC released the timetable and schedule for the 2027 General Elections. This has inadvertently placed immense pressure on political parties, especially those outside government thereby constraining their ability to effectively prepare and contribute to building a strong, inclusive, and stable democratic nation.
“In this regard, IPAC firmly demands that the National Assembly, as a matter of urgency, revisits and amends the Electoral Act 2026. Specifically, the provision mandating direct primaries must be reconsidered, and the option of indirect primaries restored.
“The choice of candidate selection methods remains an internal affair of political parties and must not be subjected to undue legislative interference. Furthermore, the requirement for political parties to submit their membership registers including members’ National Identification Numbers (NIN) within the limited timeframe of 1st to 21st April 2026 is impractical and exclusionary.
“This provision risks disenfranchising a large segment of Nigerians who lack access to NIN registration facilities. In the spirit of inclusivity and participatory democracy, this requirement should be expunged. Equally important is the restoration of the electronic transmission of election results after collation at polling units. Transmission of results to the IREV should be mandatory immediately after results are announced at the polling unit and no proviso is required.
“This is a fundamental demand of the Nigerian people and a critical safeguard for electoral transparency. The challenges experienced during the 2023 presidential election serve as a reminder of the risks associated with lapses in this area. Such occurrences must not be allowed to recur,” Dantalle said.
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