The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Joash Amupitan, has urged political parties to adopt “surgical precision” in selecting candidates ahead of the 2027 elections, emphasizing that credible polls start with transparent primaries. Speaking at a consultative meeting in Abuja on updated INEC regulations aligned with the 2026 Electoral Act, he highlighted streamlined guidelines for party operations, primaries, campaign finances, and election expenses—aimed at curbing opaque processes, litigation, and voter apathy. With elections set for January 16 (presidential/National Assembly) and February 6 (governorship/state assembly) in 2027, Amupitan stressed accountability and called for collaborative input to build a fair electoral system.
In response, IPAC Chairman Yusuf Mamman Dantalle criticized the 2026 Electoral Act as regressive and pressured parties unfairly. He demanded urgent National Assembly amendments, including restoring indirect primaries, scrapping NIN-linked membership register submissions by April 2026 (deemed exclusionary), mandating immediate electronic result transmission to IREV post-polling unit collation, and strengthening penalties for vote buying via an Electoral Offences Commission. IPAC vowed constructive engagement for transparent, inclusive democracy amid international scrutiny.
