The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a comprehensive review and overhaul of its Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties to align them with the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026.
The exercise, which began with a technical workshop, aims to strengthen the legal framework for party operations, ensure greater transparency, and enhance the integrity of the electoral process well ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, disclosed this during the workshop, stating that the commission is synchronising its guidelines with the provisions of the amended Electoral Act to make the electoral architecture more robust in both theory and practice.
Key areas expected to see stricter benchmarks in the revised 2026 guidelines include:
Membership documentation and verification (including mandatory submission of verified digital membership registers)
Financial transparency and campaign finance reporting
Conduct of party primaries, congresses and conventions
Inclusion of women, youth and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)
Party registration, de-registration, and overall operations
Political parties have been warned that failure to comply with key requirements, such as submitting comprehensive digital membership registers by the stipulated deadline could result in disqualification from fielding candidates in the 2027 polls.
The review is part of INEC’s broader efforts to tighten compliance, reform party primaries, and address gaps in the previous 2022 guidelines.
Stakeholders say the updated regulations will promote internal democracy within parties and reduce litigations associated with party activities during the election cycle.
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