The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced a comprehensive revision of its Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties as part of early preparations for the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, the commission disclosed that the review process, being coordinated in Abuja under the leadership of Prof. Joash Amupitan, forms a key component of its ongoing reform initiatives.
According to INEC, the exercise is designed to strengthen regulatory oversight of political parties, enhance compliance with electoral laws, curb pre-election disputes, and deepen public trust in Nigeria’s democratic system.
Central to the review is the alignment of party regulations with the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026, alongside efforts to address emerging electoral developments.
The commission noted that the technical workshop brings together national commissioners, directors from operational departments, legal experts, election administrators, and other institutional stakeholders.
Participants are conducting a clause-by-clause assessment of the 2022 regulatory framework governing political parties.
INEC explained that the Electoral Act 2026 introduces significant legal and operational reforms affecting party administration, candidate nomination procedures, compliance requirements, dispute resolution mechanisms, and the commission’s regulatory powers.
Updating the subsidiary regulations, it said, is necessary to ensure legal consistency and operational clarity ahead of the next election cycle.
The commission also stated that lessons from previous elections are informing the review process.
It cited recurring issues such as lack of transparency in party primaries, membership disputes, inadequate financial disclosures, and limited inclusion of women, youths, and persons with disabilities—factors that have often triggered avoidable litigation and uncertainty.
To support the reform agenda, INEC is drawing on findings from the Political Party Performance Index, a diagnostic framework used to evaluate governance standards and compliance levels within political parties nationwide.
The objective, the commission said, is to move from reactive enforcement to proactive supervision based on measurable benchmarks.
“For elections to inspire public confidence, the institutions that produce candidates must themselves operate transparently and within the law,” Amupitan was quoted as saying.
The review will also address issues of financial accountability, dispute prevention mechanisms, accurate membership documentation, and structured benchmarks for inclusive participation within party leadership structures.
Technical assistance for the initiative is being provided by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in collaboration with Nigerian legal and electoral experts.
The Country Director of WFD Nigeria, Adebowale Olorunmola, described the process as a critical rebuilding of democratic foundations.
Upon conclusion, the exercise will produce a consolidated draft of the Revised Regulations and Guidelines (2026 Edition).
The draft will undergo internal validation before further consultations with the Inter-Party Advisory Council and all registered political parties.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to continuous electoral reform, emphasizing the need for strong, transparent, and accountable political parties capable of presenting credible leadership options to Nigerians in 2027.
