Electoral Act: Inter-Party Advisory Council Pushes for Urgent Amendment Ahead of 2027 Polls as Independent National Electoral Commission Unveils Draft Guidelines

Prof. Joash Amupitan, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced a thorough analysis 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.

Amupitan stated that the updated standards are intended to comply with the Electoral Act 2026 and address systemic issues impacting party operations and electoral credibility at a consultative meeting with political party leaders at INEC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

The INEC chairman underlined the need of openness in candidate selection procedures and stressed that legitimate elections start well in advance of election day.

He insisted 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 standards.

The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the gubernatorial and state assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027, Amupitan said, highlighting the tight electoral schedule that stakeholders must deal with.

He claims that INEC and political parties must plan and carry out the shortened timelines imposed by the Electoral Act 2026 with “surgical precision.”

Important facets of political party management, 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.

In order to ensure that demonstrations and processions are carried out peacefully and in accordance with people’ rights, the new framework also establishes more precise guidelines for campaign activities.

The chairman of INEC cited sections of the Electoral Act 2026 that give the Commission the authority to set election expenditure caps after consulting political parties.

He emphasized that transparency in finance is crucial for credible elections and asked party leaders to closely examine 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, were used to guide the review process.

He claimed that the score highlighted the need for reforms to close the gap between party constitutions and grassroots reality.

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 elections.

Amupitan advised political parties to see the new rules as safeguards intended to preserve the integrity of the democratic process rather than as limitations.

He urged interested parties to participate positively in the consultation process, stressing that INEC is steadfast in its opposition to the deterioration of democratic principles while maintaining its commitment to neutrality.

Amupitan emphasized the necessity of group 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 declared. Amupitan stated that in order to reflect the present legal and political reality, the Commission had conducted a thorough technical assessment of the 2022 regulations.

“We are safeguarding the Nigerian people’s sovereign will from the nomination stage to the final results announcement by tightening these regulations,” he declared.

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, and he called for its immediate amendment or outright repeal.

This statement was delivered by Dantalle during a keynote speech at a high-level gathering of political party leaders and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Commission’s Abuja headquarters.

Despite substantial public engagement in previous public hearings on constitutional and electoral reforms, the IPAC chairman called the Electoral Act 2026 a “significant regression,” pointing out that it fell short of public expectations.

He claims that the bill adds 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 of 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 that political parties have direct primaries is a key component of IPAC’s demands. Dantalle maintained that the process of choosing candidates had to stay within the party and not be subject to parliamentary interference.

He emphasized that flexibility in internal party processes 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 registers, which include members’ National Identification Numbers (NIN), between April 1 and April 21, 2026, was also questioned by the IPAC chairman.

He warned that the decision might disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who do not have access to NIN registration facilities, calling it “impractical and exclusionary.”

“This requirement should be expunged in the spirit of participatory democracy,” he said.

Dantalle emphasized that the electronic transmission of election results must be fully restored, especially via INEC’s IReV platform.

Described as “a fundamental demand of the Nigerian people” and a crucial guarantee for openness, he asked that results be relayed at polling places without any conditions as soon as they are announced.

He cautioned against a recurrence of previous mistakes, citing the controversies surrounding the 2023 Nigerian presidential election and stating that similar incidents must not be let to happen again.

The IPAC chief also voiced alarm about the new law’s allegedly laxer sanctions for vote buying, cautioning that the practice will continue to undermine election trust.

In order to guarantee responsibility and discourage wrongdoing, he reiterated recommendations for the creation of an Electoral Offenses Commission.

Dantalle revealed that IPAC has called on development partners and the world community to use diplomatic influence to promote Nigeria’s democracy and formally requested the National Assembly to abolish the Electoral Act 2026.

He stated that “the international community is closely observing Nigeria’s democratic trajectory” and that better results are anticipated in 2027.

INEC was tasked by Dantalle with exhibiting professionalism, technological efficiency, and zero tolerance for operational errors, especially in the implementation of the IReV portal and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

“The public’s confidence depends on the assurance that every vote will count, and the Commission’s credibility is at stake,” he said.

Dantalle promised the Council’s ongoing dedication to promoting political stability, legitimate elections, and democratic consolidation in Nigeria, reiterating IPAC’s function as the umbrella organization of all registered political parties.

Voter indifference and mistrust would continue in the absence of significant reforms, he said, emphasizing the necessity for leadership based on integrity, accountability, and public confidence.

He stated, “As LP zones presidential ticket to South, we must collectively sanitize our political environment and uphold standards that inspire public confidence.”

In a related event, the Labour Party (LP) claims that the southern region of the nation would host its presidential candidate in the general election of 2027.

Sen. Nenadi Usman, the party’s acting national chairman, made this claim in an interview with reporters on Tuesday in Abuja following a meeting between political party leaders and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties for the 2027 general election were the subject of the conference.

Usman stated that although the party’s presidential ticket was available to qualified candidates, a decision had been made to limit it to southern Nigeria.

“We have made a certain choice. Without a doubt, we won’t consider any candidates from Northern Nigeria. The role has been allotted to Southern Nigeria,” she stated.

Nonetheless, she insisted that the party will respect internal democratic values.

“Whoever the public likes and votes for in the primary will become the candidate when the candidates arrive.

“It would no longer be democratic to tell you who the candidate will be at this time,” she stated.

In response to inquiries about the planning for the party congresses that are set to begin on Thursday, Usman stated that the congresses would probably be rescheduled given the recent spike in party membership.

“You are undoubtedly aware that there has been a recent uptick in the number of individuals wishing to join the LP.

“I believe that many people will lose their right to vote if we continue to adhere to that date. Therefore, I don’t think I’ll be able to tell you the precise date or whether it will be changed.

However, I believe we should change that date, meet together as a group, and decide on a new one.

Political parties, after course, are about people getting together. Therefore, one person cannot make that choice on their own,” she stated.

She praised a recent Yenegua court ruling that dismissed a challenge to the party’s leadership on the grounds that it lacked validity.

“Anyone can declare themselves chairman and appear in court, but the court rejected it after finding they lacked locus standi. “The case is now closed,” she declared.

Usman disclosed that a formal appeal has been filed with the Nigeria Police Force on the recent attack and vandalism of a party office.

She said she was confident that the offenders would be held accountable in order to discourage similar acts of political violence in the future.

Usman encouraged Nigerians to use the party’s digital registration tool for party membership registration.

“I urge members to register using their phones. The registration process is done online.

She clarified, “Only residents of isolated hamlets or villages without internet access are eligible for manual registration in books.”

The chairman had earlier praised INEC for providing a briefing on the new Electoral Act 2026.

She pointed out that the meeting was essential for assisting parties in meeting deadlines for things like uploading candidate names and adhering to new rules.43