INEC BEGINS REVIEW OF PARTY REGULATIONS AHEAD OF 2027 POLLS
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
As part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic framework, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched a comprehensive technical review of its regulations for political parties.
The exercise is aimed at aligning the Commission’s framework with the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026, ensuring legal clarity and operational efficiency well ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The review is being spearheaded by INEC Chairman, Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, with a focus on strengthening oversight and reducing pre-election disputes that frequently burden the courts.
In a statement issued Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser, Adedayo Oketola, the chairman stressed that credible elections begin with transparent political party processes.
“For elections to inspire public confidence, the institutions that produce candidates must themselves operate transparently and within the law,” Amupitan stated.
The technical workshop, involving National Commissioners, legal experts and directors, is conducting a clause-by-clause review of the 2022 regulatory framework. A key component of the reform is the integration of the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI), a diagnostic tool intended to shift INEC’s approach from reactive enforcement to proactive supervision based on measurable governance standards.
The Commission is targeting recurring issues such as opaque primary elections, weak financial disclosures and the marginalization of certain groups within party structures.
Under the revised guidelines, stricter benchmarks will be introduced to enhance the participation of women, youths and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), alongside improved membership documentation protocols.
Technical support for the review is being provided by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD).
Commenting on the collaboration, WFD Country Director Adebowale Olorunmola described the initiative as a significant step toward strengthening internal party democracy.
Upon completing the technical phase, INEC plans to present a consolidated draft of the 2026 Revised Regulations to the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and other stakeholders for validation.
By harmonizing its subsidiary regulations early, the Commission said it aims to reduce administrative bottlenecks and ensure that political parties operate as disciplined institutions capable of producing credible leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.
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