Title: INEC Releases Revised Party Guidelines Ahead of 2027 Elections Date Published: 24 March 2026 Description: The Independent National Electoral Commission has unveiled a revised draft of its 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, seeking input from stakeholders as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.Speaking at a consultative meeting with party leaders in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, said the updated framework was designed to align with the Electoral Act 2026 and address shortcomings identified in previous regulations.He emphasised that credible elections are rooted in transparent pre-election processes, particularly in the selection of candidates. According to him, the new guidelines aim to strengthen internal party democracy and restore public confidence in the electoral system.“We gather not only to review the draft regulations but to reaffirm our shared commitment to credible elections. Transparency in candidate emergence is critical to the integrity of the entire process,” he stated.Amupitan explained that the revised draft followed a comprehensive review of the 2022 guidelines, drawing on empirical data, including the Political Party Performance Index developed in collaboration with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. He noted that the review exposed a significant disconnect between party constitutions and grassroots realities.The new framework introduces reforms across key areas such as party registration and mergers, internal administration, conduct of primaries, campaign activities, financial transparency, and conditions for deregistration. It is also expected to curb irregularities, especially in party primaries.“These measures are intended to sanitise party primaries and eliminate opaque processes that impose unpopular candidates, often leading to voter apathy and avoidable litigation,” he added.On campaign financing, the INEC chairman highlighted provisions empowering the commission to set limits on election expenses in consultation with political parties, urging stakeholders to scrutinise funding and expenditure clauses.With the 2027 general elections scheduled for January 16 for presidential and National Assembly polls, and February 6 for governorship and state assemblies, Amupitan warned that the commission is working within a tight timeline.“We are operating within a compressed timetable that requires precision and collective responsibility,” he said.He further disclosed that the draft incorporates measurable benchmarks to enhance the participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in the political process.Reaffirming INEC’s neutrality, Amupitan stressed that the commission would no longer remain passive in the face of practices that undermine democratic values.In his remarks, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Yusuf Dantalle, raised concerns over certain provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, warning that unresolved issues could affect the credibility of the 2027 elections.He argued that the law falls short of public expectations and places undue pressure on political parties, particularly those outside government. Dantalle called for a review of the mandatory direct primaries, insisting that the choice of candidate selection methods should remain an internal party matter.He also criticised the requirement for parties to submit detailed membership registers, including National Identification Numbers, within a limited timeframe, describing it as impractical and exclusionary.Dantalle further advocated for the mandatory electronic transmission of election results and renewed calls for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to tackle malpractice.“The credibility of the process depends on public trust and the assurance that every vote will count,” he said, adding that the international community would be closely monitoring Nigeria’s 2027 elections.   Attached Images: f9cf9aedc3601d56c17a27192632d895afff9e53bab94568af12255e87385224.jpg Attached Video: None