2027 Polls: INEC Begins Overhaul of Party Regulations in Line with Electoral Act 2026
Oru Leonard
ABUJA – As preparations intensify for the 2027 General Election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has initiated a far-reaching review of its Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties to ensure full compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and to reinforce safeguards for credible elections.
The reform process, spearheaded by the Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, signals a strategic effort to strengthen party oversight, enhance regulatory clarity, and reduce pre-election disputes that have historically challenged Nigeria’s electoral process.
At the heart of the initiative is a Technical Workshop bringing together National Commissioners, Directors of key operational departments, legal advisers, election administrators, and institutional stakeholders. Participants are undertaking a clause-by-clause examination of the existing 2022 framework to harmonise it with new legal provisions introduced under the Electoral Act 2026.
The new law introduces significant adjustments affecting party administration, nomination procedures, compliance standards, dispute resolution processes, and the Commission’s supervisory powers. INEC’s review aims to translate these statutory changes into clear operational guidelines well ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
Beyond statutory alignment, the Commission is incorporating lessons from previous elections, particularly in addressing recurring challenges such as disputed primaries, internal party conflicts, financial disclosure gaps, and limited inclusion of women, youth, and Persons with Disabilities in party leadership structures. By tackling these concerns proactively, INEC seeks to minimise avoidable litigation and enhance electoral predictability.
A central component of the reform effort is the integration of findings from the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI), a diagnostic tool designed to evaluate governance and compliance practices within political parties. The Commission intends to use empirical benchmarks from the index to shift from reactive enforcement to structured, preventive regulation.
Speaking on the review, the Chairman reiterated that electoral credibility is built long before election day.
“Transparent and law-abiding political parties are fundamental to credible elections. Strengthening internal democracy and compliance within parties is essential to strengthening the entire electoral system,” he stated.
The workshop is also expected to produce strengthened reporting templates, clearer compliance obligations, and measurable standards for monitoring party activities nationwide, with particular emphasis on financial accountability and inclusive participation.
Technical support for aspects of the review is being provided by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), working alongside Nigerian legal and electoral experts to provide comparative insights into party regulation and democratic governance.
Commenting on the collaboration, WFD Nigeria Country Director Adebowale Olorunmola described the initiative as a forward-looking reform.
“This process goes beyond revising guidelines; it reinforces the democratic architecture by ensuring that political parties operate with transparency, accountability, and measurable standards of performance,” he noted.
INEC emphasised that completing the regulatory alignment early will help curb pre-election disputes and allow greater institutional focus on election planning and logistics.
Following the technical review, a consolidated draft of the Revised Regulations and Guidelines (2026 Edition) will undergo internal validation before consultations with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), and all registered political parties ahead of implementation.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to continuous reform and to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions in advance of the 2027 General Election.
(INEC Media)
