The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Tuesday, unveiled a revised draft of its 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, seeking the input of political parties to strengthen the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the new regulations were designed to align with the Electoral Act 2026 and address gaps identified in previous frameworks.
He stressed that credible elections begin long before voting day, emphasising the importance of transparency in candidate selection processes.
“We gather not only to discuss the newly drafted INEC Regulation and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2026, but also to reaffirm our collective commitment to enhancing the democratic process in Nigeria.
“Credible elections begin long before polling day; they begin in the transparency of the processes that produce the candidates,” he said.
Amupitan explained that the revised guidelines followed a comprehensive review of the 2022 regulations and were informed by empirical findings, including the Political Party Performance Index developed with support from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy.
He noted that the review exposed a “disturbing gap between party constitutions and grassroots realities.”
