The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled the draft 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, made this known on Tuesday during a consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja.
Amupitan said the review of the regulations became necessary following the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026, noting that the commission could not rely on outdated frameworks.
According to him, “Nigeria cannot navigate a 2027 horizon using a 2022 map.”
He explained that INEC had carried out a comprehensive clause-by-clause realignment of its guidelines to ensure compliance with the new law.
“Our review has been guided by empirical data; specifically, findings from the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI),” he said.
Amupitan added that the draft regulations address key areas, including registration and merger of political parties, as well as their day-to-day operations.
“The newly drafted regulations encompass crucial areas that are central to the operations of political parties in our democratic framework,” he stated.
On party primaries, the INEC chairman said new measures had been introduced to enhance transparency and fairness.
“This aims to sanitise party primaries, which intends to end the era of opaque processes that impose unpopular candidates, fueling voter apathy and avoidable litigation,” he said.
He further disclosed that the guidelines provide clear standards for campaign financing and activities.
“We have established clear standards regarding the financing of political activities, emphasising transparency and accountability in managing party funds and campaign expenses,” Amupitan added.
He also noted that provisions had been included for the deregistration of political parties under defined conditions, as well as benchmarks to ensure the participation of women, youths and persons with disabilities.
Amupitan urged political parties to see the draft not as a restriction but as a safeguard for credible elections.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has called on the National Assembly to urgently amend the Electoral Act 2026.
IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, said the current law could undermine the 2027 elections if not reviewed.
“IPAC firmly demands that the National Assembly, as a matter of urgency, revisits and amends the Electoral Act 2026,” he said.
Dantalle criticised the provision mandating direct primaries, insisting that political parties should be allowed to choose their preferred mode of candidate selection.
“The choice of candidate selection methods remains an internal affair of political parties,” he stated.
He also described the requirement for submission of membership registers, including National Identification Numbers (NIN), within a short timeframe as impractical.
According to him, the provision could disenfranchise millions of Nigerians without access to NIN registration facilities.
Dantalle further called for the restoration of mandatory electronic transmission of results to the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal.
“It is also deeply troubling that the new Electoral Act appears to weaken penalties for vote buying,” he added.
He reiterated the need for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to ensure accountability.
The IPAC chairman said the council had already urged the National Assembly to repeal the Act in the interest of credible and transparent elections.
NAN
