By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria
The Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday engaged political parties on its draft 2026 Regulations and Guidelines ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The consultative meeting, held in Abuja, was aimed at gathering stakeholder input on the framework that will guide party activities in the next electoral cycle.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan said the engagement was necessary to ensure credible elections, noting that preparations must begin well before polling day.
He said: “We meet today not merely as regulators and political actors, but as joint custodians of Nigeria’s democratic future.”
He also said the draft guidelines were developed after a review of the 2022 framework to align with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
He added: “We can not navigate a 2027 horizon using a 2022 map.”
Amupitan explained that the document covers key areas, including party registration, primaries, campaign activities, political finance, and deregistration procedures.
He added that the commission is working within a tight schedule, with the Presidential and National Assembly elections fixed for January 16, 2027, and governorship and state assembly elections slated for February 6, 2027.
“The reduction in statutory timelines demands surgical precision in planning and execution.”
The guidelines also include provisions to enhance the participation of women, youths, and persons with disabilities in the electoral process.
In his remarks, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Yabagi Sani, commended INEC for consulting political parties, describing the process as necessary for developing a workable framework.
“Political parties are committed to engaging constructively with the draft.”
He, however, called for flexibility in the conduct of party primaries and raised concerns over challenges in membership registration.
Sabi added: “There is a need to balance inclusivity with accountability in party membership processes.”
He also emphasised the importance of transparency in result management, urging the commission to provide clear provisions on electronic transmission of election results.
INEC said it would review stakeholders’ submissions before finalising and releasing the guideli
nes ahead of the 2027 elections.
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