2027: Political parties face stricter scrutiny as INEC updates regulations

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will update its political party rules and guidelines to match the newly passed Electoral Act 2026 and current realities.

In a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, the Commission said the move is part of its ongoing reforms.

The aim is to improve supervision of political parties, ensure better compliance with the law, reduce pre-election court cases, and strengthen public trust in Nigeria’s democracy.

INEC is organizing a technical workshop to review its Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, which were last published in 2022.

The workshop will bring together National Commissioners, Directors, legal experts, election administrators, and other stakeholders.

They will carefully examine the existing rules and update them where necessary.

According to the statement, the Electoral Act 2026 introduces major changes affecting political party administration, candidate nomination, compliance requirements, dispute resolution, and INEC’s regulatory powers.

Because of this, the Commission is reviewing its regulations to ensure they fully comply with the new law before the next general election cycle.

INEC also said it is learning from past elections. It noted that problems such as lack of transparency in party primaries, membership disputes, poor financial disclosure, and limited participation of women, youth, and Persons with Disabilities have led to unnecessary court cases and electoral uncertainty. Addressing these issues early is part of the Commission’s preparations for the 2027 elections.

To guide its reforms, INEC is using findings from the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI), a tool that identifies weaknesses in party governance and compliance.

The goal is to shift from reacting to problems to preventing them through clear standards and supervision.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, was quoted as saying that credible elections start long before election day. He stressed that political parties must operate transparently and within the law to inspire public confidence.

The workshop is expected to produce stronger compliance measures, clearer reporting requirements, and better monitoring guidelines for political parties nationwide.

There will be special focus on financial accountability, dispute prevention, proper membership records, and measurable standards for the participation of women, youth, and Persons with Disabilities in party structures.

The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) is providing technical support for parts of the process, alongside Nigerian legal and electoral experts.

The WFD Nigeria Country Director, Adebowale Olorunmola, described the review as an