By Omeiza Ajayi, ABUJA
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that while it remains a neutral arbiter in Nigeria’s electoral process, it will no longer serve as a “passive observer” and watch democratic values systematically eroded by political actors.
The Commission’s Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan SAN, made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja during a consultative meeting with leaders of political parties to review the draft INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2026.
According to the Chairman, the move is a proactive step to sanitise the political space ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
Addressing the parties’ leadership, Amupitan said, “INEC remains a neutral umpire, but we are no longer passive observers to the erosion of democratic values. Together, let us build an electoral ecosystem where the rules are clear, the playing field is level, and the outcome is beyond reproach.”
Amupitan emphasised that the credibility of any election is rooted in the transparency of candidate emergence, noting that the new guidelines are designed to address the “disturbing gap” between party constitutions and grassroots realities.
“As I have often maintained, credible elections begin long before polling day; they begin in the transparency of the processes that produce the candidates,” the INEC boss stated.
He warned that the Commission is committed to “sanitising party primaries” to end the “era of opaque processes that impose unpopular candidates, fuelling voter apathy and a deluge of avoidable litigation.”
The review followed the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026, which has necessitated a “clause-by-clause realignment” of existing rules. Professor Amupitan stressed that the Commission cannot “navigate a 2027 horizon using a 2022 map,” especially given the compressed timetable that demands “surgical precision” in the execution of the timelines.
A major highlight of the draft regulations is the focus on Section 93(2) of the new Act, which mandates consultation between INEC and parties regarding election expenses.
The Chairman urged parties to pay close attention to clauses governing the management of finances for primaries and general conduct to ensure accountability. Beyond financial oversight, the 2026 guidelines introduce measurable benchmarks for the inclusion of women, youth, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
The regulations also streamline the registration and merger of parties while defining strict parameters for deregistration.
Urging political leaders to view the new rules as a safeguard rather than a restriction, Amupitan said that by sharpening the rules, the Commission is protecting the sovereign will of the Nigerian people from the point of nomination to the final declaration of results.
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