Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan has vowed to end the Imposition of unpopular candidates in the process leading to the 2027 general elections in the country.
According to him, this would be part of the comprehensive review of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
Speaking today, March 24, at a consultative meeting with political party leaders at the INEC Conference Room, Abuja, Professor Amupitan said: “our aim is to sanitise party primaries and end the era of opaque processes that impose unpopular candidates, fuel voter apathy and generate avoidable litigation.”
He insisted that Nigeria cannot approach the 2027 General Election with what he called “an outdated regulatory framework. We cannot navigate a 2027 horizon using a 2022 map.”
He said that with the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections fixed for February 6, 2027, the reduction in statutory timelines under the Electoral Act 2026 demands what he described as “surgical precision” from both the Commission and political parties.
He acknowledged the fact that credible elections usually begin long before polling day.
“They begin in the transparency of the processes that produce the candidates.”
INEC boss said that the revised draft covers critical areas central to party administration and electoral integrity, including registration and merger of parties, internal party operations, conduct of primaries, campaign activities, party finance and election expenses, and conditions for deregistration.
He said that particular attention was paid to Section 93 (2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which empowers the Commission to determine election expenses for political parties in consultation with them.
He advised parties to carefully consider specific clauses relating to expenses for the management of party primaries and the conduct of elections.
Professor Amupitan said that the review was guided by empirical findings from the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI), developed with the support of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, which highlighted gaps between party constitutions and grassroots realities. He added that measurable benchmarks have been embedded in the draft to promote the participation of women, youth and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
He also advised party leaders to see the draft regulations not as a restriction but as a safeguard.
“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.”
Professor Amupitan assured stakeholders that the consultative meeting was designed as a platform for constructive input. “Let us approach this consultation with the rigour our democracy deserves.
“Together, we can enhance the integrity of our political processes and uphold the democratic ideals we all cherish.”
