IPAC Slams Electoral Act 2026, Pushes for Immediate Review Before 2027 Polls

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has called for an urgent amendment of the Electoral Act 2026, warning that its current provisions could threaten the integrity of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, made the position known on Tuesday during a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political party leaders in Abuja.

He described the law as regressive, noting that it fails to reflect the expectations of Nigerians despite extensive public consultations during the reform process. According to him, the Act poses significant risks and could undermine democratic stability if not urgently reviewed.

Dantalle further expressed concern that the legislation has already been used as the basis for INEC’s 2027 election timetable, placing political parties—especially those outside government—under undue pressure to comply with challenging requirements.

Among the contentious issues raised by IPAC is the mandatory adoption of direct primaries for candidate selection. The council argued that the provision erodes the independence of political parties and called for the reinstatement of indirect primaries.

IPAC also faulted the requirement for parties to submit detailed membership registers, including National Identification Numbers (NIN), within a limited timeframe in April 2026. It described the directive as impractical and warned that it could exclude many Nigerians who have yet to obtain NIN.

On electoral transparency, the council stressed the need for the full and unconditional electronic transmission of results. It urged INEC to ensure that polling unit results are uploaded to the IReV portal immediately after announcement, referencing challenges experienced during the 2023 presidential election.

The body further raised concerns over what it termed weakened sanctions for vote buying in the new law, reiterating its demand for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to prosecute electoral offenders.

IPAC disclosed that it has formally written to the National Assembly, seeking the repeal of the Electoral Act 2026, and appealed to international partners to support Nigeria’s democratic process through constructive engagement.

As preparations begin for upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, the council urged INEC to enhance its readiness, particularly in deploying critical technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the IReV portal.

Dantalle emphasised that restoring public confidence in the electoral system is crucial, warning that voter apathy may persist without meaningful reforms.

The meeting also reviewed INEC’s proposed 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, which are yet to be officially released and are separate from the Electoral Guidelines.