2027: Parties reject amended Electoral Act, demand key revisions

2026-03-24 - 15:14

By Omeiza Ajayi, ABUJA Political parties under the umbrella of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) have rejected the amended Electoral Act 2026, calling for an urgent revision of several key provisions. During a consultative meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday in Abuja, the Council described the Act as a regressive framework that threatens the integrity of the 2027 General Election. IPAC National Chairman Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle called on the National Assembly to urgently repeal and amend the legislation to prevent a democratic crisis. Dr Dantalle expressed deep concern that the current act places “immense pressure” on political parties and lacks the inclusivity required for a stable democracy. He noted that the legislative framework has failed to reflect the contributions made by Nigerians during public hearings, leading to a significant trust deficit and rising voter apathy. The Council specifically criticised the timing of INEC’s election timetable, arguing it was built on a contentious legal foundation that places immense strains on parties outside of the government. IPAC also appealed to international developmental partners to use their diplomatic influence to ensure Nigeria’s democratic process remains sustainable and transparent. The Council insists that the National Assembly must restore the option for indirect primaries to ensure that candidate selection remains an internal party affair rather than a mandated legislative process. “The choice of candidate selection methods remains an internal affair of political parties and must not be subjected to undue legislative interference,” Dantalle noted. Additionally, IPAC demanded the immediate removal of the requirement for parties to submit membership registers containing National Identification Numbers (NIN) by April 2026, citing the risk of disenfranchising Nigerians who lack access to registration facilities. A central pillar of the Council’s demands is the mandatory electronic transmission of results to the IReV portal immediately after polling unit announcements, without any discretionary provisions. Furthermore, the leadership called for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to combat vote-buying and the strengthening of penalties for electoral malpractice to safeguard the sanctity of the ballot.