INEC aligns party regulations, amended Electoral Act to protect integrity of 2027 Elections

*Nigeria’s the Independent National Electoral Commission emphasises the technical review of its Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties is to align them with the recently amended and approved Electoral Act 2026 in line with emerging electoral realities in the electoral ecosystem

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As part of decisive measures to strengthen electoral integrity ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it commenced a comprehensive technical review of its Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties to align them with the recently assented Electoral Act 2026 and emerging electoral realities.

ConsumerConnect reports the electoral body said the exercise, convened under the leadership of Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, Chairman of INEC, represented a critical phase in the Commission’s ongoing reform agenda aimed at strengthening political party oversight, improving compliance culture, reducing pre-election disputes, and enhancing public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.

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INEC also noted the Technical Workshop on the Revision of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties would attract National Commissioners and Directors across operational departments, legal experts, election administrators, and institutional stakeholders, to undertake a detailed clause-by-clause review of the existing 2022 framework.

It equally observed that the Electoral Act 2026, which the National Assbly (NASS) enacted recently, introduced significant legal and operational changes affecting political party administration, candidate nomination processes, compliance obligations, dispute resolution mechanisms, and the Commission’s regulatory mandate.

According to INEC, reviewing its subsidiary regulations will ensure full legal alignment and operational clarity well ahead of the next electoral cycle.

Beyond legal compliance, the Commission disclosed that it is drawing lessons from previous elections to strengthen preventive regulation.

In regard to electoral administration, the Commission said persistent challenges, such as opaque party primaries, membership disputes, weak financial disclosure practices, and exclusionary participation patterns had all contributed to avoidable litigation and electoral uncertainty.

Addressing these gaps early remains central to the Commission’s preparations for 2027, the electoral umpire averred.

Besides, to support evidence-based reforms, INEC said it would be mainstreaming findings from the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI), a diagnostic assessment tool that identifies systemic weaknesses in party governance and compliance practices across the country.

It noted the objective is to move regulatory oversight from reactive enforcement to proactive supervision anchored on measurable standards.

According to him, credible elections begin long before polling day.

Speaking on the reform process, Mr. Adedayo Oketola Chief Press Secretary (CPS)/ Media Adviser to INEC Chairman, in a statement Sunday, March 1, 2026, noted Prof. Amupitan said: “For elections to inspire public confidence, the institutions that produce candidates must themselves operate transparently and within the law.”

He explained the workshop would also develop strengthened compliance mechanisms, clearer reporting obligations, and operational guidance for monitoring political party activities nationwide.

The statement noted that particular attention is being given to financial accountability, dispute prevention, accurate membership documentation, and measurable benchmarks for the participation of women, youth, and Persons with Disabilities within party structures.

Besides, technical facilitation support for aspects of the process is being provided by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) alongside Nigerian legal and electoral experts, contributing comparative technical insights in support of the Commission’s institutional reform objectives.

In his remarks on the engagement, Adebowale Olorunmola, Country Director of Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) Nigeria, stated that the Commission’s initiative represents a significant step towards strengthening political party regulation ahead of the 2027 General Elections cycle.

Olorunmola stated: “This isn’t just a review of a document; it is a reconstruction of the democratic foundation. ” “We are moving toward an era where political parties are held to the same high standards of integrity as the electoral commission itself.”

He also emphasised that anchoring regulatory reforms on empirical evidence, including insights from the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI), would support INEC to deepen compliance, reduce avoidable electoral disputes, and promote greater transparency, inclusivity, and internal democracy within political parties.

INEC stressed that aligning party regulations early with the Electoral Act 2026 would significantly reduce pre-election litigation and administrative disputes that often divert attention from election preparation and delivery.

At the conclusion of the exercise, a consolidated draft of the Revised Regulations and Guidelines (2026 Edition) will undergo internal institutional validation before engagement with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and all registered political parties as part of implementation consultations, Oketola said.

The Commission, therefore, reaffirmed its commitment to continuous electoral reform, and ensuring that political parties remain strong democratic institutions capable of producing credible leadership choices for Nigerians.

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