Amend Electoral Act or we boycott 2027 elections – IPAC

2026-03-05 - 17:27

By Luminous Jannamike ABUJA – The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has warned that political parties under its umbrella may boycott the 2027 General Elections if the National Assembly does not urgently amend key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. In simple terms, IPAC says parts of the new law weaken multiparty democracy, restrict the rights of political parties to manage their own affairs, and could affect the credibility and acceptance of the next general elections if left unchanged. The position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Council’s General Assembly meeting held at its National Secretariat in Abuja. The communiqué, made available to journalists, was co-signed by IPAC National Chairman, Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, and National Secretary, Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, at the close of deliberations. “Should the National Assembly fail to address these anomalies through urgent amendments to the Act, political parties under the umbrella of IPAC will be compelled to boycott the 2027 General Elections. “In such circumstances, the outcome of the elections will be rejected as illegitimate and will not be recognized by the political parties,” the Council said. The warning signals a brewing confrontation between political parties and lawmakers less than a year before the 2027 polls. IPAC said that although it acknowledges the effort that went into correcting flaws in the Electoral Act 2022, the 2026 law has introduced new problems that run contrary to its guiding principle of deepening democracy in Nigeria. “Unfortunately, there are clear indications that some aspects of the new Electoral Act 2026 undermine this fundamental objective and are inconsistent with the spirit of multiparty democracy,” the communiqué stated. One of the Council’s strongest objections is Section 84(2), which excludes indirect primaries as a method of nominating candidates. IPAC argues that this interferes with the long-recognised right of political parties to decide how they choose their candidates. “It is an established principle, affirmed by several judicial pronouncements, including those of the highest courts in Nigeria, that political parties possess certain fundamental rights in the administration of their internal affairs. “However, the new Electoral Act 2026 has curtailed this right through Section 84(2), which excludes indirect primaries,” IPAC said. Beyond party primaries, the Council called for the removal of the requirement that party members must possess and upload their National Identification Number (NIN). It said the provision could disenfranchise many Nigerians who do not have access to NIN and violates Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. IPAC also demanded the expungement of Section 77 (4, 5, 6 and 7), arguing that the subsections infringe on citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of association. On election transparency, the Council insisted that electronic transmission of results after announcement at polling units must be restored. It described the absence of mandatory electronic transmission during the 2023 presidential election as a major flaw that should not be repeated. The Council further observed that penalties for vote buying under the new Act have been weakened and called for stricter sanctions to deter electoral malpractice. Another concern raised by IPAC is the removal of forged certificates as grounds for election petitions. “The foundation of democracy lies in electing individuals of integrity, credibility, and sound qualifications into public office. “IPAC is deeply concerned that the new Electoral Act removes the presentation of forged certificates as grounds for election petitions, thereby creating an avenue for individuals with questionable credentials to occupy public office,” the communiqué said. The Council said the provision conflicts with constitutional disqualifications and urged the National Assembly to align the Electoral Act with the Constitution to avoid unnecessary legal disputes. IPAC also recalled its role during tensions surrounding the collation of the 2023 presidential election results, saying it stood firmly against attempts to undermine the democratic process. “In the present circumstances, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) cannot fold its arms. The time to act is now,” the Council declared. It said it would draw the attention of Nigerians and the international community, including the United Nations, the European Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the United States Embassy and the United Kingdom Embassy, to its concerns. The Council also reserved the right to challenge what it described as objectionable provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 in court, setting the stage for a possible legal and political battle ahead of 2027.