Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Tuesday unveiled the draft 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, did the unveiling at the consultative meeting with leaders of political parties on the review of INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties in Abuja.
Mr Amupitan said that the review became necessary following the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026.
According to him, Nigeria cannot navigate a 2027 horizon using a 2022 map.
Mr Amupitan called on political parties to take special note of Clause 40(4) & (5) of the draft regulation dealing with election expenses of political parties for the management of party primaries and for the conduct of elections.
He said that INEC had concluded a clause-by-clause realignment of its guidelines to ensure that they were not only legally air-tight but operationally in sync with the new Act.
“Our review has been guided by empirical data; specifically, findings from the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI).
“This diagnostic tool, developed with the support of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), highlighted a disturbing gap between party constitutions and grassroots realities.
“The newly drafted regulations encompass crucial areas that are central to the operations of political parties in our democratic framework, including registration and merger of political parties.
“We have streamlined the process to ensure that it is more accessible, while maintaining a robust framework that upholds democratic principles,” he said.
On political party operations, MR Amupitan said that clear guidelines had been instituted to govern the day-to-day functioning of political parties, ensuring compliance with the country’s laws and promoting accountability.
“This aims to sanitise party primaries, which intends to end the era of opaque processes that impose unpopular candidates, fueling voter apathy and a deluge of avoidable litigation.
“We recognise the critical role of primary elections in our political system. Thus, we have outlined procedures that uphold fairness and transparency within political parties,” he said.
Amupitan added that regulations had also been put in place to ensure that campaign activities were conducted peacefully and respect the rights and dignity of all citizens.
“We have established clear standards regarding the financing of political activities, emphasising the need for transparency and accountability in managing party funds and campaign expenses.
“We have also included provisions that define the circumstances under which a political party may be deregistered, ensuring that the process is just and equitable.
