The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced high-level consultations with political parties on its draft Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2026, setting the stage for a major overhaul of Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
At a consultative meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday, INEC presented the draft document to party leaders, calling for constructive input to refine rules that will govern party operations, primaries, and campaign activities in the next electoral cycle.
The Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, described the engagement as a critical step in strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process, noting that credible elections begin long before voters head to the polls.
“We meet today not merely as regulators and political actors, but as joint custodians of Nigeria’s democratic future,” he said. “The foundation of credible elections is laid well before polling day.”
Amupitan explained that the draft guidelines emerged from a rigorous technical review of the 2022 framework, necessitated by new provisions in the Electoral Act, 2026. According to him, the Commission is determined to align its regulatory instruments with current legal realities.
“We cannot navigate a 2027 horizon using a 2022 map,” he declared, underscoring the need for reforms that reflect evolving electoral dynamics.
Citing Section 93(2) of the Electoral Act, the INEC Chairman highlighted the Commission’s mandate to regulate election expenses in consultation with stakeholders. He urged political parties to pay particular attention to provisions relating to financial management, especially clauses addressing funding of primaries and campaign conduct.
With the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, and Governorship and State Assembly polls fixed for February 6, 2027, Amupitan warned that the Commission is working within a compressed timeline that demands “surgical precision” in planning.
The draft regulations span critical areas such as party registration and mergers, internal administration, conduct of primaries, campaign guidelines, political finance, and procedures for deregistration. It also introduces measurable benchmarks to boost participation of women, youth, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the electoral process.
Responding on behalf of political parties, National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr. Dantalle, commended INEC for adopting a consultative approach, describing it as essential for producing a practical and inclusive regulatory framework.
He, however, raised concerns over certain provisions, particularly those relating to the conduct of party primaries, insisting that political parties require a degree of flexibility in managing their internal processes.
“Party primaries are internal affairs of political parties, and the regulations should accommodate this reality,” he noted.
Dantalle also highlighted challenges associated with membership registration, urging the Commission to adopt provisions that balance inclusivity with administrative feasibility.
On election transparency, he expressed support for INEC’s technological innovations but called for clearer guidelines on electronic transmission of results to eliminate ambiguities.
The IPAC chairman further reiterated the need for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to strengthen enforcement against vote buying and other electoral malpractices, suggesting that interim accountability measures could be embedded within the regulations.
In his closing remarks, Amupitan assured stakeholders that all submissions would be carefully reviewed before finalising the document.
“This is precisely why we convened this meeting,” he said. “Your insights and experiences are invaluable in shaping a regulatory framework that works for all stakeholders.”
INEC is expected to incorporate feedback from the engagement into the final version of the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2026, ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
