The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has introduced a revised draft of its 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties as part of efforts to strengthen internal party processes and enhance electoral credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The draft was presented on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, during a consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja, where INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, said the proposed framework is designed to align with the Electoral Act 2026 and address gaps identified in previous regulations.
Speaking at the meeting, Amupitan emphasised the role of internal democracy in credible elections, noting that transparent candidate selection remains fundamental to the electoral process.
“We gather not only to discuss the newly drafted INEC Regulation and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2026, but also to reaffirm our collective commitment to enhancing the democratic process in Nigeria.
“Credible elections begin long before polling day; they begin in the transparency of the processes that produce the candidates,” he said.
He explained that the review followed a detailed evaluation of the 2022 regulations, supported by empirical data, including insights from the Political Party Performance Index developed in collaboration with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy.
According to him, the findings exposed a “disturbing gap between party constitutions and grassroots realities.”
Amupitan noted that the updated guidelines introduce reforms covering party registration, mergers, internal administration, primaries, campaign activities, financial accountability, and deregistration conditions, with a strong emphasis on improving the conduct of party primaries.
“These guidelines aim to sanitise party primaries and end opaque processes that impose unpopular candidates, fuelling voter apathy and avoidable litigation,” he said.
He also highlighted new provisions on campaign financing, stating that the Electoral Act 2026 empowers INEC to determine election spending limits in consultation with political parties.
With the 2027 elections scheduled for 16 January for presidential and National Assembly contests, and 6 February for governorship and state assembly elections, the INEC chairman warned of limited time for implementation.
“We are operating within a compressed timetable, which demands what I call surgical precision,” he noted.
He added that the draft includes measurable benchmarks to improve participation among women, youth, and persons with disabilities, urging political parties to adopt the reforms.
“By sharpening these rules, we are protecting the sovereign will of the Nigerian people from nomination to the final declaration of results,” he said.
“INEC remains a neutral umpire, but we are no longer passive observers to the erosion of democratic values,” he added.
However, the proposals drew criticism from the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, who warned that certain provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 could undermine the credibility of the 2027 elections if left unresolved.
“Critical issues, if not urgently addressed, could jeopardise the success of the 2027 General Election,” he said.
Dantalle described aspects of the law as disappointing, arguing that it falls short of expectations.
“Rather than advancing our democratic journey, it represents a significant regression,” he stated.
He opposed the provision mandating direct primaries, insisting that political parties should retain control over their candidate selection methods.
“The choice of candidate selection methods remains an internal affair of political parties,” he said.
He also urged the National Assembly to reinstate indirect primaries as an option and criticised the requirement for parties to submit membership registers, including National Identification Numbers, within a limited timeframe, describing it as impractical and exclusionary.
Dantalle further reiterated calls for compulsory electronic transmission of election results.
“This is a fundamental demand of the Nigerian people,” he added.
He advocated the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to address malpractice and stressed the importance of restoring public confidence in the electoral system.
“The credibility of the Commission is at stake, and public confidence hinges on the assurance that every vote will count,” he said.
He added that the international community would be closely monitoring Nigeria’s 2027 elections.
