Political parties operating under the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) have renewed calls for an immediate review and amendment of the Electoral Act 2026, warning that unresolved issues in the law could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
The appeal was made on Tuesday by IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, during a consultative meeting with party leaders convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at its headquarters in Abuja.
Dantalle emphasized that the provision mandating direct primaries for political parties must be reconsidered, advocating a return to indirect primaries. According to him, the method of candidate selection should remain the exclusive internal affair of political parties, free from legislative imposition.
He also criticized the directive requiring political parties to submit members’ registers, including National Identification Numbers (NIN), within a narrow window between April 1 and April 21, 2026. He described the timeline as unrealistic and exclusionary, noting that many Nigerians still lack access to NIN registration facilities. Dantalle warned that such a requirement risks disenfranchising a significant portion of the electorate and should be removed to promote inclusivity.
On electoral transparency, IPAC reiterated its demand for the mandatory electronic transmission of results. The council insisted that results must be uploaded to the IReV portal immediately after announcement at polling units, without conditions.
“The Nigerian people have consistently demanded this as a safeguard for transparency,” Dantalle stated, referencing the controversies surrounding the 2023 presidential election as a cautionary example.
IPAC also expressed concern over what it described as weakened penalties for vote-buying in the new law. The council renewed its call for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to ensure strict enforcement and accountability.
Dantalle stressed that stronger sanctions are necessary to deter malpractice and preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process. He added that IPAC has formally appealed to the National Assembly to urgently repeal or amend the Electoral Act 2026.
He further urged international development partners to apply diplomatic pressure where necessary to support democratic sustainability in Nigeria.
In response, INEC, through its chairman, Joash O. Amupitan, stated that the commission has already reviewed and updated its regulations to align with the new Electoral Act.
Amupitan noted that the revised guidelines cover critical areas such as party registration, mergers, internal operations, campaign conduct, election expenses, and deregistration procedures. He stressed that transparency in candidate selection processes is fundamental to credible elections.
“Credible elections begin long before polling day—they start with transparent processes that produce candidates,” he said.
The INEC chairman highlighted provisions under Section 93(2) of the Act, which empower the commission to determine election expenses in consultation with political parties. He urged parties to pay close attention to updated clauses governing financial conduct during primaries and general elections.
INEC also revealed that the 2027 election schedule presents a compressed timeline. Presidential and National Assembly elections are set for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections will follow on February 6, 2027.
Amupitan acknowledged that the shortened timelines demand “surgical precision” in planning and execution, adding that the commission has introduced measures to enhance inclusivity by setting participation benchmarks for women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
With growing concerns from political stakeholders and INEC pushing forward with implementation, the debate over the Electoral Act 2026 is expected to intensify in the coming months. The outcome of these discussions could play a decisive role in shaping the credibility and transparency of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
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