The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented a newly reviewed set of Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, as part of efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability, and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja on Tuesday, INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, said the revised guidelines were aligned with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and designed to address gaps identified in the 2022 framework.
Prof Amupitan noted that the Commission undertook a rigorous technical review to ensure the regulations are both legally sound and operationally effective, stressing that “credible elections begin long before polling day.”
He explained that the updated guidelines cover critical areas including party registration and mergers, internal party operations, conduct of primaries, campaign activities, political financing, and conditions for deregistration.
According to him, particular attention has been given to improving the transparency of party primaries, which he described as a major source of electoral disputes and voter apathy.
The INEC Chairman said “By sanitising party primaries, we aim to end opaque processes that impose unpopular candidates and fuel avoidable litigation,”.
He also highlighted new provisions on election expenses, in line with Section 93(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which empowers the Commission to determine spending limits in consultation with political parties.
Prof Amupitan further stated that the revised regulations introduce measurable benchmarks to promote the inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in party activities.
With the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, and governorship and state assembly polls set for February 6, 2027, Prof Amupitan said the Commission was working within a compressed timeline that requires what he described as “surgical precision.”
The INEC boss urged political parties to view the new guidelines as safeguards rather than restrictions, emphasizing that they are essential to protecting the integrity of the electoral process from candidate nomination to the declaration of results.
He also called for constructive engagement from stakeholders, assuring that INEC remains committed to neutrality while taking a firmer stance against practices that undermine democratic values.
The consultative meeting forms part of INEC’s broader efforts to build consensus with political actors and ensure a level playing field ahead of the next general elections.
