How party infighting, lawsuits threaten election planning – INEC

By Goli Innocent

The Independent National Electoral Commission has expressed concern over persistent leadership disputes and legal battles within political parties, warning that these issues are beginning to disrupt preparations for upcoming elections.

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, spoke at a technical workshop reviewing the commission’s regulations and guidelines for political parties following amendments to the Electoral Act 2026. He said internal conflicts are undermining democratic processes and threatening the credibility of elections.

“Our collective commitment to strengthening democracy is being challenged by leadership squabbles and judicialised politics,” Amupitan said. “In the last electoral cycle alone, INEC was drawn into numerous lawsuits that could have been avoided if parties adhered to their constitutions.”

He added that the rising number of court cases forces the commission to spend valuable time resolving matters that should be handled internally. “Each day spent defending these disputes is a day diverted from our core mandate of election planning,” he said.

Amupitan also highlighted the impact of weak internal party democracy on the quality of primaries. “The integrity of party primaries directly affects the credibility of elections. As we approach the primary window from April 23 to May 30, 2026, political parties must ensure a level playing field for aspirants,” he said.

He warned that ongoing infighting could turn political parties into platforms of constant conflict rather than vehicles for national development, diluting party ideologies and creating unnecessary court battles.

The workshop, organised in partnership with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, aims to align party regulations with the amended Electoral Act and strengthen guidelines covering party administration, compliance, and internal governance.