Political parties demand amendment to Electoral Act 2026
Political parties under the aegis of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) have again demanded that the National Assembly, as a matter of urgency, amends the Electoral Act 2026.
The political parties made their stand known during a consultative meeting on the review of Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at its national headquarters, in Abuja.
The national chairman of IPAC, Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, specifically mentioned that the provision mandating direct primaries must be reconsidered, and the option of indirect primaries restored.
IPAC averred that candidates selection methods remains an internal affair of political parties and must not be subjected to undue legislative interference.
He added that the requirement for political parties to submit their membership registers including members’ National Identification Numbers (NIN) within the limited timeframe of 1st to 21st April 2026, is impractical and exclusionary.
He said the provision risked disenfranchising a large segment of Nigerians who lacked access to NIN registration facilities, stressing that this requirement should be expunged in the spirit of inclusivity and participatory democracy.
IPAC said equally important was the restoration of the electronic transmission of election results after collation at polling units, stating that transmission of results to the IREV should be mandatory immediately after results are announced at the polling unit and no proviso is required.
He said: “This is a fundamental demand of the Nigerian people and a critical safeguard for electoral transparency.
“The challenges experienced during the 2023 presidential election serve as a reminder of the risks associated with lapses in this area. Such occurrences must not be allowed to recur. These the Council reiterated at the recently concluded General Assembly.”
He said IPAC is also “deeply troubled” that the new Electoral Act appears to weaken penalties for vote-buying an offence that continues to erode the credibility of our elections, reiterating its call for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to ensure that violators are held accountable.
He said: “Stronger sanctions will serve as a deterrent and reinforce the sanctity of our democratic process.”
Dantalle stated that steps had been taken by appealing to the National Assembly to urgently repeal the 2026 Electoral Act in the interest of credible and transparent electoral process, calling on developmental partners to urgently deploy their diplomatic influences in the interest of a sustainable democracy in Nigeria.
He said these critical issues if not urgently addressed, could undermine the integrity of the electoral process and jeopardise the success of the 2027 general election.
