INEC Begins Comprehensive Review of Party Regulations to Ensure Election Integrity
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has initiated a broad review of its regulations and guidelines for political parties, aligning them with the recently assented Electoral Act 2026. This move is part of 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.
The exercise, led by INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan, represents a critical phase in the commission’s efforts to ensure that political parties operate within the legal framework while maintaining transparency and accountability. The review aims to address persistent challenges such as opaque party primaries, membership disputes, weak financial disclosure practices, and exclusionary participation patterns, which have contributed to avoidable litigation and electoral uncertainty.
Technical Workshop on Revision of INEC Regulations and Guidelines
A technical workshop on the revision of INEC Regulations and Guidelines for political parties was convened to bring together National Commissioners, Directors across operational departments, legal experts, election administrators, and institutional stakeholders. The workshop focused on a detailed clause-by-clause review of the existing 2022 framework, ensuring full legal alignment and operational clarity well ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Adedayo Oketola, stated that the recently enacted Electoral Act 2026 introduces significant legal and operational changes affecting political party administration, candidate nomination processes, compliance obligations, dispute resolution mechanisms, and the Commission’s regulatory mandate. He emphasized 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.
Proactive Supervision and Evidence-Based Reforms
Amupitan stressed that to support evidence-based reforms, INEC is 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. The objective is to move regulatory oversight from reactive enforcement to proactive supervision anchored on measurable standards.
Technical facilitation support for aspects of the process was 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.
Abbas Explains Inclusion of Both Electronic and Manual Transmission in Electoral Act
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, explained that the National Assembly included both electronic and manual transmission of results in the amended Electoral Act to avoid disenfranchising the Nigerian electorate and prevent voter apathy during the 2027 general election.
Abbas highlighted that due to inadequate internet penetration in the country, it would be counterproductive to allow only one form of results transmission in the Electoral Act. He noted that even in advanced cities like Abuja, stable internet services are not guaranteed all the time, and according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) report, Nigeria is still underserved by almost 40 per cent.
He explained that introducing an electronic system alone could further reduce the number of voters, as 40 per cent of the country may not have adequate internet services. Therefore, the Electoral Act should be hybrid—combining both manual and electronic systems—to ensure inclusivity and fairness.
APC Expresses Confidence in Revised INEC Timetable
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Ondo State Chapter, expressed confidence in the revised 2027 election timetable released by INEC, describing it as realistic, structured, and fair to all political parties. State Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, stated that the timetable reflected administrative foresight and institutional balance.
Otaloro emphasized that the requirement for digital membership registers is a progressive reform that enhances transparency, strengthens institutional discipline, and deepens internal democracy within political parties. He dismissed allegations by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that the new timetable was designed to favor Tinubu and APC, calling the claim speculative and without evidentiary foundation.
ADC Opens Free Online Membership Registration Nationwide
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) announced the commencement of free online membership registration nationwide, building on the momentum of its membership registration and revalidation exercise launched last month. The new digital platform, available at www.adcregistration.ng, is crucial for the party’s presentation for the 2027 general election as well as its various congresses and conventions.
ADC stated that the manual registration would continue simultaneously across the country, following the successful kick-off of its nationwide registration and revalidation in Abuja last month. Members who have registered on the party’s previous platform are also required to revalidate their membership on the new digital portal to ensure full compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.
