INEC Tasks Political Parties On Credible Primary Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC wants political parties to be fair and transparent in the conduct of there primary elections.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, stated this in Abuja during a consultative meeting with leaders of political parties on the review of the Commission’s regulations and guidelines.

Professor Amupitan said the newly drafted 2026 guidelines were designed to strengthen internal party processes and ensure that candidates emerge through transparent and democratic means.

He explained that the revised regulations were aligned with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and aimed at creating a more accountable and inclusive political system.

“We cannot navigate a 2027 horizon using a 2022 map, the Commission had undertaken a detailed review to ensure the rules reflect current realities’’.

Professor Amupitan who also said that updated framework covered party registration, primaries, campaign conduct, finances and possible deregistration explained that it also introduced measurable benchmarks for the participation of Women, Youths and Persons with Disabilities.

He urged political parties to see the regulations as safeguards rather than restrictions, stressing that they are essential to protecting the will of the electorate.

In a remark, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council IPAC, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle called on the National Assembly to urgently review the 2026 electoral act, especiallly the mandatory direct primaries, which he said should be left to the discretion of political parties.

“The choice of candidate selection methods remains an internal affair of political parties and must not be subjected to undue legislative interference.”

Alhaji Dantalle also criticized the requirement for parties to submit membership registers with National Identification Numbers within a limited timeframe as it would exclude many electorates from participating in the electoral process.

The IPAC chairman further emphasised the need to restore mandatory electronic transmission of results, put measures in place for adequate punishment for vote buying as well as called for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to strengthen accountability.

The IPAC Chairman reaffirmed IPAC’s commitment to working with INEC and other stakeholders to ensure credible elections and deepen democracy in Nigeria.

Kayode Oyedare, Edited By Grace Namiji