2027 Polls: INEC Rolls Out New Party Rules as IPAC Kicks Against Electoral Act 2026

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday unveiled a revised set of regulations and guidelines for political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, as party leaders under the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) sharply criticised the Electoral Act 2026.

The new regulations were presented at a consultative meeting between the commission and political party leaders held at INEC headquarters in Abuja.

Speaking at the meeting, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the new guidelines were designed to strengthen transparency in party operations and ensure credible elections ahead of the 2027 polls.

According to him, the revised regulations were aligned with the Electoral Act 2026 and would address major challenges in party primaries, campaign financing, and internal party democracy.

“We cannot navigate a 2027 horizon using a 2022 map,” Amupitan said, stressing that credible elections begin with transparent candidate selection processes within political parties.

He also confirmed that the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while the governorship and state assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027, adding that the commission was working within a compressed timeline created by the new law.

The INEC chairman explained that the updated regulations cover key areas including registration and merger of political parties, conduct of primaries, campaign activities, party finances, and possible deregistration of political parties that fail to meet legal requirements.

Amupitan added that the commission had also introduced measurable benchmarks to increase the participation of women, youths, and persons with disabilities in party activities.

However, political parties expressed strong reservations about the Electoral Act 2026, describing several of its provisions as impractical and capable of undermining preparations for the 2027 elections.

In his remarks, IPAC National Chairman, Dr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, said the law had fallen short of expectations despite public input during the amendment process.

He said the Act had placed enormous pressure on political parties, especially opposition parties, and called on the National Assembly of Nigeria to urgently review and amend the legislation.

Dantalle particularly criticised the provision mandating direct primaries for political parties, arguing that the choice of candidate selection method should remain an internal affair of parties.

He also faulted the requirement for parties to submit membership registers containing members’ National Identification Numbers (NIN) within a short timeframe, describing it as unrealistic and potentially exclusionary.

IPAC further called for the restoration of mandatory electronic transmission of election results, warning that failure to do so could weaken public confidence in the electoral process ahead of 2027.

Despite the disagreements, both INEC and political parties agreed on the need for continued consultation to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system and improve the credibility of future elections.