The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has introduced a draft of revised regulations for political parties aimed at addressing opaque primaries and unchecked campaign spending ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a consultative meeting with party leaders in Abuja on Tuesday, Joash Amupitan said the proposed guidelines are designed to tackle candidate imposition and rebuild public trust in the electoral process.
“As I have often maintained, credible elections begin long before polling day; they begin in the transparency of the processes that produce the candidates,” he said.
Amupitan noted that flawed party primaries have contributed to voter apathy and increased election-related litigation.
The proposed 2026 regulations, which revise the 2022 framework, are aligned with the Electoral Act 2026 and cover key areas including party registration, mergers, internal operations, campaign activities, and conditions for deregistration.
According to the INEC chairman, the new draft introduces clearer procedures for party primaries, tighter controls on campaign conduct, and stricter financial transparency and accountability measures.
He also highlighted provisions on election spending, in line with section 93(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which empowers INEC to set expenditure limits in consultation with political parties.
Amupitan urged parties to pay close attention to clauses relating to the cost of managing primaries and elections, stating that the reforms are intended to “foster a more transparent, fair, and equitable electoral landscape”.
The commission is working within a compressed timetable for the 2027 elections, with presidential and national assembly polls scheduled for January 16, 2027, and governorship and state assembly elections set for February 6, 2027.
He said the shortened timelines require “surgical precision” and added that the draft includes measurable benchmarks to improve participation among women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
The reforms were informed by findings from a political party performance index developed with support from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, which revealed “a disturbing gap between party constitutions and grassroots realities”.
Describing the draft as a safeguard rather than a restriction, Amupitan called on political parties to engage constructively with the process.
“INEC remains a neutral umpire, but we are no longer passive observers to the erosion of democratic values,” he said.
“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.”
INEC said it is seeking feedback from political parties before finalising the regulations that will guide political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
