The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has initiated a comprehensive technical review of its regulations for political parties to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic foundation. The exercise seeks to align the Commission’s framework with the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026, ensuring legal clarity and operational integrity well ahead of the 2027 General Election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, emphasized that election integrity begins with the conduct of political parties. “For elections to inspire public confidence, the institutions that produce candidates must themselves operate transparently and within the law,” he said. The review focuses on reducing pre election disputes that often clog the judicial system.
The technical workshop brings together National Commissioners, legal experts, and directors to conduct a clause-by-clause assessment of the 2022 framework. A central feature of the reform is the mainstreaming of the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI), a diagnostic tool designed to shift INEC’s role from reactive enforcement to proactive supervision based on measurable governance standards.
The review targets long-standing challenges such as opaque primaries, weak financial disclosures, and the exclusion of marginalized groups. Stricter benchmarks for women, youth, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) will be enforced, along with more rigorous membership documentation protocols.
Technical support is being provided by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), whose Country Director, Adebowale Olorunmola, described the initiative as a reconstruction of Nigeria’s democratic foundation. He added that empirical evidence from the PPPI will deepen internal party democracy and promote disciplined, transparent party operations.
Upon completion, INEC will present a consolidated draft of the 2026 Revised Regulations to the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and other stakeholders for validation. The move aims to minimize administrative friction and ensure that political parties function as disciplined institutions capable of producing credible leadership for Nigeria.
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