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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
National leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has cried out to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over choking policies seemingly against opposition political parties with the ‘obnoxious items’ in the amended Electoral Act and ‘unfavourable deadlines’ for the conduct of party primaries for next year’s general elections.
National Chairman of the council, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, spoke at the meeting between the electoral umpire and the leadership of political parties in Abuja yesterday.
Dantalle specifically reminded the commission’s chairman, Joash Amupitan, that the integrity and credibility of the commission was at stake, cautioning him that the international community is closely monitoring with keen interest what he is doing.
IPAC further warned that rather than advancing Nigeria’s democratic journey, the policies represent a significant regression, insisting that they must be urgently addressed in the national interest.
Decrying the situation, the council lamented that they had inadvertently placed immense pressure on political parties, especially those outside government, thereby constraining their ability to effectively prepare and contribute to building a strong, inclusive and stable democratic nation.
Enumerating some of the unfavourable policies, the IPAC leadership noted: “Nigerians participated actively in the public hearings on the Constitution and Electoral Act amendments, with the expectation that their contributions would culminate in a progressive, inclusive and people-oriented Electoral Act. Unfortunately, the Electoral Act 2026 falls far short of these expectations.
“Rather than advancing our democratic journey, it represents a significant regression; one that must be urgently addressed in the national interest. It is particularly concerning that this contentious Electoral Act formed the basis upon which INEC released the timetable and schedule for the 2027 general elections.
“This has inadvertently placed immense pressure on political parties, especially those outside government, thereby constraining their ability to effectively prepare and contribute to building a strong, inclusive and stable democratic nation.
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“In this regard, IPAC firmly demands that the National Assembly, as a matter of urgency, revisit and amend the Electoral Act 2026. Specifically, the provision mandating direct primaries must be reconsidered and the option of indirect primaries restored. The choice of candidate selection methods remains an internal affair of political parties and must not be subjected to undue legislative interference.
“Furthermore, the requirement for political parties to submit their membership registers, including members’ National Identification Numbers (NIN) within the limited timeframe of April 1 to 21, is impractical and exclusionary. This provision risks disenfranchising a large segment of Nigerians who lack access to NIN registration facilities. In the spirit of inclusivity and participatory democracy, this requirement should be expunged,” it emphasised.
On the contentious automatic real-time transmission of election results, IPAC noted: “Equally important is the restoration of the electronic transmission of election results after collation at polling units. Transmission of results to the IReV should be mandatory immediately after results are announced at the polling unit and no proviso is required. 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.
“It is also deeply troubling that the new Electoral Act appears to weaken penalties for vote buying; an offence that continues to erode the credibility of our elections. IPAC reiterates its call for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to ensure that violators are held accountable. Stronger sanctions will serve as a deterrent and reinforce the sanctity of our democratic process.
“We have also taken steps by appealing to the National Assembly to urgently repeal the 2026 Electoral Act in the interest of a credible and transparent electoral process. We are also calling on developmental partners to urgently deploy their diplomatic influences in the interest of a sustainable democracy in Nigeria.
“Leadership in a democratic society must be anchored on integrity, credibility and accountability. It is imperative that we collectively sanitise our political environment and uphold standards that inspire public trust. The prevailing trust deficit and voter apathy will persist unless decisive steps are taken to reform the current electoral framework.
“The international community is closely observing Nigeria’s democratic trajectory, with high expectations for improved outcomes in the 2027 general election. We must rise to this responsibility.
“As we look ahead to the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, INEC must demonstrate preparedness, professionalism and technological efficiency, particularly in the deployment of BVAS and the IReV portal. There must be zero tolerance for lapses. The credibility of the commission is at stake and public confidence hinges on the assurance that every vote will count,” the leadership of IPAC warns.
