Prof. Joash Amupitan, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced a thorough review of the Commission’s rules and guidelines for political parties. He called the action a crucial step in bolstering Nigeria’s democratic process in advance of the 2027 general election.
Speaking on Tuesday during a consultative meeting with political party leaders at INEC headquarters in Abuja, Amupitan stated that the updated rules are intended to address systemic issues impacting party operations and election credibility while also being in line with the election Act 2026.
The INEC chairman stressed the significance of openness in candidate selection procedures, emphasizing that legitimate elections start well in advance of election day.
He emphasized that “we cannot navigate a 2027 horizon using a 2022 map,” adding that the revised framework was created in accordance with the new electoral law and constitutional principles.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and state assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027, according to Amupitan, who emphasized the tight electoral schedule that stakeholders must deal with.
He claims that the Electoral Act of 2026’s reduced timescales require INEC and political parties to organize and carry out their plans with “surgical precision.”
Important facets of political party administration, such as registration and mergers, internal operations, primaries, campaign conduct, financing, and deregistration procedures, are covered by the updated standards.
According to Amupitan, one of the main causes of voter disinterest and post-election lawsuits is the elimination of opaque procedures in party primaries.
Additionally, the new framework establishes more precise guidelines for campaign activities, guaranteeing that processions and rallies are carried out peacefully and in accordance with the rights of the populace.
The Electoral Act of 2026’s provisions allowing the Commission to set election spending caps in collaboration with political parties were cited by the INEC chairman.
He emphasized that transparency in finance is crucial for credible elections and asked party leaders to carefully review provisions pertaining to election expenses, especially those controlling party primaries and campaign financing.
Amupitan said that empirical results from the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI), a diagnostic instrument created with assistance from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, served as the basis for the review process.
He claimed that the index showed a substantial discrepancy between party constitutions and grassroots reality, highlighting the necessity of reforms to close the gap.
The chairman of INEC declared that the updated guidelines include quantifiable standards for women, young people, and people with disabilities (PWDs) to participate in party activities and election procedures.
Amupitan advised political parties to see the new rules as protections meant to preserve the integrity of the democratic process rather than as limitations.
He emphasized that INEC is steadfast in its opposition to the deterioration of democratic norms and urged interested parties to participate constructively in the consultation process.
Amupitan emphasized the necessity of shared accountability in creating an open and reliable election system while reiterating the Commission’s function as an unbiased arbiter.
“We meet today not merely as regulators and political actors, but as joint custodians of Nigeria’s democratic future,” he stated. Amupitan stated that the 2022 regulations had undergone a thorough technical assessment by the Commission to reflect contemporary political and legal realities.
“We are safeguarding the sovereign will of the Nigerian people from the point of nomination to the final declaration of results by tightening these regulations,” he stated.
Dr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, warned that the current provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 could undermine Nigeria’s democratic process and jeopardize the credibility of the 2027 General Election. He called for its immediate amendment or outright repeal.
At a high-level gathering of political party leaders and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Commission’s Abuja headquarters, Dantalle made this statement during his keynote speech.
The IPAC chairman called the Electoral Act 2026 a “significant regression,” pointing out that despite high levels of public engagement in previous public hearings on constitutional and electoral reforms, it did not live up to public expectations.
He claims that the bill has elements that could “impede, weaken, and destabilize” Nigeria’s hard-won democracy rather than bolstering democratic processes.
Dantalle said that the development has put undue pressure on political parties, particularly those outside the government, saying, “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.”
Rejecting the Act’s requirement for direct primaries for political parties is one of IPAC’s main points of contention. Dantalle maintained that the process of choosing candidates should continue to be an internal party matter and should not be subject to legislative interference.
He emphasized that flexibility in internal party procedures is crucial for inclusivity and political stability and encouraged the Nigerian National Assembly to immediately review the legislation and reinstate the option of indirect primaries.
The need that political parties submit membership registrations, which include members’ National Identification Numbers (NIN), within a strict window of time from April 1 to April 21, 2026, was also opposed by the IPAC chairman.
He warned that millions of Nigerians without access to NIN registration services could lose their right to vote, calling the policy “impractical and exclusionary.”
He said, “This requirement should be expunged in the spirit of participatory democracy.”
Dantalle emphasized the importance of fully restoring electronic transmission of election results, especially via INEC’s IReV platform.
Described as “a fundamental demand of the Nigerian people” and a crucial safeguard for openness, he requested that results be relayed immediately after announcement at polling places without any precondition measures.
Citing the controversies surrounding the 2023 Nigerian presidential election, he cautioned against a recurrence of previous mistakes, stating that such incidents must not be let to happen again.
The IPAC chief also voiced concerns about the new law’s allegedly laxer sanctions for vote buying, cautioning that the practice will continue to undermine election trust.
He reiterated proposals for the creation of an Electoral Offenses Commission in order to guarantee responsibility and discourage wrongdoing.
Dantalle revealed that IPAC has called on development partners and the world community to use diplomatic influence in support of Nigeria’s democracy and formally requested the National Assembly to repeal the Electoral Act 2026.
“The international community is closely observing Nigeria’s democratic trajectory,” he stated, adding that better results are anticipated in 2027.
In the implementation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the IReV portal in particular, Dantalle instructed INEC to exhibit professionalism, technological efficiency, and zero tolerance for operational errors.
“The assurance that every vote will count is crucial for public confidence, and the Commission’s credibility is at risk,” he said.
Dantalle pledged the Council’s ongoing dedication to promoting political stability, legitimate elections, and democratic consolidation in Nigeria while reiterating IPAC’s function as the umbrella organization of all registered political parties.
He underlined the necessity of leadership based on honesty, responsibility, and public confidence, cautioning that in the absence of significant changes, voter indifference and mistrust would continue.
He declared, “As LP zones presidential ticket to South, we must collectively sanitize our political environment and uphold standards that inspire public confidence.”
The Labour Party (LP) has announced that its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election has been assigned to the southern region of the nation.
In an interview with reporters on Tuesday in Abuja following the meeting between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political party leaders, Sen. Nenadi Usman, the party’s interim national chairman, made this claim.
The purpose of the gathering was to evaluate the INEC rules and guidelines for political parties in preparation for the general election of 2027.
Usman stated that a decision had been made to restrict the party’s presidential ticket to the southern region of Nigeria, even though it was still available to qualified candidates.
“We have made a single decision. Without a doubt, no candidate from Northern Nigeria will be considered. She stated, “We have zoned the position to Southern Nigeria.”
But she insisted that internal democracy will be upheld by the party.
“Whoever the public likes and votes for during the primaries will become the candidate when the candidates arrive.”
“At this point, it would no longer be democratic to tell you who the candidate will be,” she stated.
In response to inquiries about the preparations for the party congresses that are set to begin on Thursday, Usman stated that the congresses will probably be rescheduled given the recent spike in party membership.
“You are undoubtedly aware that the number of people wishing to join the LP has been rising lately.
“I believe we will disenfranchise a significant number of people if we proceed with adhering to that date. Therefore, I may not be able to inform you the precise date or whether it will be altered.
However, I believe we should change that date and come up with a new one as a group.
Naturally, political parties are about people uniting. Thus, it is not possible for one person to make that choice alone,” she stated.
She praised a recent Yenegua court ruling that dismissed a legal challenge against the party’s leadership on the grounds that it lacked validity.
“Anybody can declare oneself chairman and appear in court, but the court rejected it after finding they lacked locus standi. She declared, “The case is now over.”
Usman disclosed that a formal suit has been filed with the Nigeria Police Force in response to the recent attack and vandalism of a party office.
She was optimistic that the offenders will be held accountable in order to discourage similar acts of political violence in the future.
Usman advised Nigerians to use the party’s digital registration tool for party membership registration.
“I ask members to register using their phones. The process of registering is online.
She clarified, “Manual registration in books is only reserved for those who live in remote hamlets or villages without internet access.”
INEC’s briefing on the new Electoral Act 2026 was earlier praised by the chairman.
She pointed out that the meeting was essential for assisting parties in navigating time-sensitive obligations including uploading candidate names and adhering to new rules.
