2027: INEC reviews party guidelines

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has initiated a review of the 2022 edition of the political party guidelines to ensure integrity and transparency in the electoral process.

INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, stated this in his keynote address at a technical workshop on the revision of INEC regulations and guidelines for political parties in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, Wednesday.

Amupitan emphasized the need to harmonize political party guidelines with the recent enactment of the 2026 Election Law.

He urged participants to ensure that the review meets the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians to enhance active democratic processes in the country.

The INEC chairman said the commission had moved beyond the 2022 framework to address operational sanitation of political parties.

He said: “The integrity and transparency of our electoral process is critical to fostering public trust and ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation, has a voice in shaping the future of our nation.

“The recent enactment of the 2026 Election Act, approved in February, has fundamentally recalibrated our statutory window.

“Reduced schedules create a compressed operational environment that demands we work at unprecedented speed and with surgical precision.

“This workshop is not just an administrative exercise; it is a legislative and operational alignment.

“We are here to align the Political Party Regulations and Guidelines with the 2026 Law.”

According to him, political parties in Nigeria are facing an internal democratic crisis, so the parties need to hold acceptable primaries to produce credible and acceptable election candidates.

Amupitan noted that the quality of internal party democracy had a direct influence on the secondary elections held by INEC.

“If unpopular candidates are forced on voters through a non-transparent process, we will face the twin monsters of voter apathy and an explosion of pre-election litigation.

“Our collective commitment is being challenged by leadership infighting and the judiciary’s involvement in politics.

“We must use this workshop to embed regulatory mechanisms that encourage constructive dialogue and the resolution of internal disputes, reminding party leaders that cohesive leadership is not an option; it is a democratic imperative,” he added.

The INEC chairman said the commission would continue to play the role of an impartial referee, providing a level playing field for all political parties in the country.