By Mariam Abeeb
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s electoral process have proposed a range of immediate and long-term reforms aimed at improving transparency, inclusiveness and public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The recommendations, which emerged from a stakeholder meeting on electoral reforms, focused on immediate measures to mitigate challenges before polling and structural interventions that could strengthen future election cycles.
Stakeholders from European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU- SDGN) 11, Ralph-Micheal Peters and Florence Ganoux in a joint presentation, the immediate intervention framework, the stakeholders identified five key areas of action — settle, explain, inform, protect and mediate — as critical to preventing disputes, improving access to information and building trust among voters, candidates and other participants.
They called for the early resolution of disputes arising from party primaries and candidate nominations, stressing that courts and other relevant institutions should prioritise cases that could affect candidates’ participation early enough to enable the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make necessary adjustments to its final lists.
The stakeholders also proposed the creation of a searchable database containing information on candidates, organised according to political party, elective office and constituency.
They said such a platform would enable voters to easily access reliable information about candidates ahead of the election.
They further recommended the deployment of a tool known as Whatcompass to help voters compare their political beliefs with the policy positions and platforms of political parties.
On inclusion, the meeting called for measures to facilitate greater participation by women, young people and persons with disabilities.
These, it said, should include safe venues, improved access to media platforms and better collection of demographic data to identify and address barriers to participation.
The stakeholders further recommended greater transparency in electoral dispute resolution through the establishment of a public litigation tracker showing the status of pending election-related cases.
They also called on INEC to provide clearer information on its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism, including the categories of disputes it can handle, while ensuring that ADR does not undermine statutory deadlines.
On candidate nomination and final lists, political parties were urged to make their decision-making processes more transparent to aspirants and the wider public.
INEC, in turn, was encouraged to publish its monitoring findings and explain the basis for including some candidates on final lists while excluding others.
The meeting also urged INEC and development partners to engage political parties and affected aspirants early in the process to resolve disputes before they escalate into prolonged judicial battles.
Security was identified as another critical component of credible elections, with stakeholders calling for the protection of candidates, election officials, observers and journalists throughout the electoral cycle.
They urged security agencies and political parties to ensure that the peace accord reached in late August was implemented across the states rather than remaining largely a capital-based initiative.
The stakeholders also stressed the importance of maintaining a clear and traceable chain from the results of party primaries through the final candidate lists, saying such transparency would help protect the integrity of the nomination process and reduce disputes.
The recommendations were presented as part of a broader two-horizon approach, with Horizon One focusing on immediate measures for the 2027 elections and longer-term reforms designed to address structural weaknesses in Nigeria’s electoral system beyond the next general elections.
Also, DAI Key Expert 2 – Election Administration, Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu at the meeting noted that fielding candidates remains a central function of political parties under Nigeria’s constitutional framework.
He explained that the relationship between political parties and the electoral umpire should be based on cooperation and mutual respect rather than confrontation.
The meeting also highlighted the recurring disputes surrounding party primaries, nominations and candidate lists, which have frequently resulted in litigation.
According to the presentation, prolonged disputes and late changes to candidate lists can create uncertainty for political parties, INEC and other stakeholders in the electoral process.
He stressed the importance of early engagement between INEC and political parties, recommending regular consultative meetings where emerging disagreements could be addressed before they develop into legal disputes.
He likened the relationship between the electoral commission and political parties to that of a midwife and a baby, stressing that INEC exercises significant regulatory powers over political parties.
The presentation also focused on internal party democracy and compliance with electoral rules. INEC’s current regulations identify constitutional provisions governing political parties, including Section 223 on party constitutions and rules and Section 225A on the Commission’s powers to deregister political parties that breach specified requirements.
The discussion comes as INEC intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections.
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