The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on political parties to ensure fairness and transparency in the conduct of their primaries, emphasizing that credible elections begin with internal party processes.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, made the appeal in Abuja during a consultative meeting with party leaders on the review of the Commission’s regulations and guidelines. He noted that the newly drafted 2026 guidelines are designed to strengthen internal party mechanisms and guarantee that candidates emerge through democratic and transparent means.
According to him, the revised regulations are aligned with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and aim to promote accountability and inclusiveness in Nigeria’s political system.“We cannot navigate a 2027 horizon using a 2022 map,” he said, adding that the Commission undertook a comprehensive review to ensure the rules reflect present-day realities.
Professor Amupitan explained that the updated framework covers key areas such as party registration, primaries, campaign conduct, finances, and possible deregistration.
He added that the guidelines introduce measurable benchmarks to enhance the participation of women, youths, and persons with disabilities.
He urged political parties to view the regulations as safeguards rather than restrictions, stressing their importance in protecting the will of the electorate.In his remarks, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, called on the National Assembly of Nigeria to urgently review aspects of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly the provision mandating direct primaries.
He argued that the choice of candidate selection methods should remain the internal responsibility of political parties and not be subject to excessive legislative control.
Alhaji Dantalle also criticized the requirement for parties to submit membership registers with National Identification Numbers within a limited timeframe, warning that it could disenfranchise many eligible participants.
Furthermore, he emphasized the need to reinstate mandatory electronic transmission of election results, enforce stricter penalties for vote buying, and establish an Electoral Offences Commission to strengthen accountability.
The IPAC chairman reaffirmed the council’s commitment to working with INEC and other stakeholders to ensure credible elections and deepen democratic governance in Nigeria.