2027: INEC Concludes Clause-by-Clause Realignment of Its Regulations, Guidelines
•There must be no lapses in Ekiti, Osun guber polls, IPAC warns
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, said the commission had concluded a clause-by-clause realignment of its regulations and guidelines to ensure they were not only legally airtight but also operationally in sync with the new Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 elections.
Amupitan made that known yesterday in Abuja at a consultative meeting with leaders of political parties on the review of INEC regulations and guidelines for political parties.
He stated that they met not merely as regulators and political actors, but as joint custodians of Nigeria’s democratic future.
Amupitan recalled that earlier this month, the commission commenced a rigorous technical retreat to review and reconstruct the regulations and guidelines for political parties, 2022.
He explained that the regulations had been formulated under the powers granted to INEC by the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act.
He stated, “They represent a significant review of the regulations made in 2022, now meticulously aligned with the recently enacted Electoral Act of 2026. We cannot navigate a 2027 horizon using a 2022 map.
“In particular, mention must be made of Section 93(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which states that election expenses incurred by a political party for the management or the conduct of an election shall be determined by the commission in consultation with the political parties.
“Consequently, we would like the 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.”
Amupitan said, “Therefore, the commission has concluded a clause-by-clause realignment of our Regulations and Guidelines to ensure they are not only legally airtight but operationally in sync with the new Act.
“It is our hope that these updated guidelines will foster a more transparent, fair, and equitable electoral landscape for all stakeholders involved.”
He said with the presidential and National Assembly elections fixed for January 16, 2027 and governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections fixed for February 6, 2027, the commission was operating in a compressed timetable as a result of the reduction in the various timelines in the Electoral Act, 2026, “which demands what I call surgical precision.”
He assured that the review had been guided by empirical data, specifically findings from the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI).
Amupitan stated, “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.”
Amupitan said the commission had streamlined the process to ensure that it was more accessible while maintaining a robust framework that upheld democratic principles.
He explained that clear guidelines had been instituted to govern the day-to-day functioning of political parties, ensuring compliance with the laws and promoting accountability.
He said that was aimed at sanitising party primaries, and ending the era of opaque processes that imposed unpopular candidates, fuelling voter apathy and a deluge of avoidable litigations.
The INEC chairman said the commission recognised the critical role of primary elections in the political system, adding that the electoral body has outlined procedures that could uphold fairness and transparency within political parties.
Amupitan said the commission had put in place regulations to ensure that campaign activities were conducted peacefully and respected the rights and dignity of all citizens.
He explained that the commission had also established clear standards regarding the financing of political activities, emphasising the need for transparency and accountability in managing party funds and campaign expenses.
Amupitan stated, “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.
“We have also embedded measurable benchmarks for the participation of women, youth, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).”
Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, said IPAC was duty-bound to draw both national and international attention to evident shortcomings in the current electoral and legal framework, shortcomings that had the potential to impede, weaken, and destabilise the hard-earned democracy.
Dantalle stressed that Nigerians participated actively in the public hearings on the constitution and Electoral Act amendments, with the expectation that their contributions would culminate in a progressive, inclusive, and people-oriented Electoral Act.
He said, “Unfortunately, the Electoral Act 2026 falls far short of these expectations. Rather than advancing our democratic journey, it represents a significant regression, one that must be urgently addressed in the national interest.
“It is particularly concerning that this contentious Electoral Act formed the basis upon which INEC released the timetable and schedule for the 2027 general election.
“This has inadvertently placed immense pressure on political parties, especially those outside government, thereby constraining their ability to effectively prepare and contribute to building a strong, inclusive, and stable democratic nation.
“In this regard, IPAC firmly demands that the National Assembly, as a matter of urgency, revisit and amend the Electoral Act 2026. Specifically, the provision mandating direct primaries must be reconsidered, and the option of indirect primaries restored.”
He maintained that the choice of candidate selection methods remained an internal affair of political parties and must not be subjected to undue legislative interference.
