The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled a draft of new regulations and guidelines for political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, in a move aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and internal democracy.
INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, presented the framework on Tuesday in Abuja during a consultative meeting with political party leaders, stressing the urgency of reforming the electoral process.
He warned that Nigeria must move beyond outdated practices, declaring that the country cannot “navigate a 2027 horizon with a 2022 map.”
Amupitan said the proposed 2026 guidelines are designed to tackle persistent challenges in party primaries, particularly candidate imposition and the surge in post-primary litigations, which have continued to undermine public confidence in elections.
According to him, the new framework introduces clearer procedures for the conduct of primaries, party administration and campaign activities to ensure fairness and credibility across the electoral process.
“This review is not just a legal exercise; it is a safeguard to protect the sovereign will of Nigerians—from nomination to the final declaration of results,” he said.
He further noted that the guidelines align with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, especially in the area of campaign financing, where stricter compliance measures have been outlined to promote transparency and accountability among political parties.
The INEC chairman also disclosed that the Commission is working within a tight election timetable, with presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly polls will hold on February 6, 2027.
He described the timeline as demanding “surgical precision” from both the electoral body and political actors.
Amupitan added that the draft regulations incorporate measurable benchmarks to enhance the participation of women, youths and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in party activities, as part of efforts to deepen inclusiveness in Nigeria’s democracy.
Reaffirming INEC’s neutrality, he stressed that the Commission would not hesitate to act against conduct that undermines democratic values.
“Let us build an electoral ecosystem where the rules are clear, the playing field is level, and the outcome is beyond reproach,” he said.
The consultative meeting, attended by leaders of political parties and members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, marks a significant step in INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Leaders from the Southern and Middle Belt regions have intensified calls for a power shift ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that Nigeria’s next President must emerge from the South, while warning that worsening insecurity has left large parts of the country effectively ungoverned.
The position, adopted under the aegis of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), aligns with a similar stance recently taken by the Labour Party, signalling growing consensus among key political and regional blocs on zoning the presidency to the South.
The resolution was reached at a high-level meeting held at the secretariat of the Pan Niger Delta Forum in Abuja, attended by prominent leaders, including Oba Oladipo Olaitan, Bitrus Pogu, John Azuta-Mbata and Godknows Igali, alongside delegates from across member states.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the forum urged political parties to zone their presidential tickets to the South, arguing that rotational presidency remains vital to maintaining national balance and trust among Nigeria’s diverse regions.
The group anchored its demand on the need to sustain the informal North-South power rotation arrangement, noting that the eight-year tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari from the North makes a southern presidency in 2027 both equitable and necessary for stability.
“We must insist on equity, fairness and justice if Nigeria is to survive,” the communiqué stated.
The forum also warned that Nigeria’s security situation has deteriorated sharply, with significant portions of the country lacking effective governance and state presence.
“Over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s territorial space is currently ungoverned,” the leaders said.
They noted that although security agencies remain committed, the scale of insecurity across the country has overwhelmed existing structures, citing manpower shortages and weak intelligence gathering as key challenges.
The forum rejected the reintegration of repentant terrorists, arguing that the approach has not addressed the root causes of violence and could further embolden criminal elements.
“We oppose the policy of reintegrating repentant terrorists, as it has failed to stem the tide of violence,” the communiqué added.
The leaders urged communities facing persistent attacks to adopt lawful measures of collective self-defence, while pressing for urgent reforms to Nigeria’s security architecture.
Central to their demands was the establishment of state and community policing through constitutional amendment, which they described as critical to tackling localised security threats.
The forum also expressed support for ongoing reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling for accelerated implementation of decentralised policing frameworks.
To advance this agenda, it announced the constitution of a 12-member committee of security experts to develop practical modalities for state and community policing nationwide.
Beyond security, the group renewed its call for restructuring, insisting on a return to true federalism that grants greater autonomy to states and reduces over-centralisation.
It argued that such reforms would not only drive development but also ease longstanding political and regional tensions.
The forum further raised concerns about rising economic hardship, urging the federal government to strengthen measures to cushion the impact on citizens.
It also advocated increased support for local refining capacity and clearer policy direction to end dependence on imported petroleum products.
*Labour Party zones 2027 presidential ticket to South
Similarly, the Labour Party has resolved to restrict its presidential ticket for the 2027 general elections to candidates from the southern region, as preparations for the polls gather momentum.
National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Nenadi Usman, announced the decision on Tuesday in Abuja after a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“We have one certain decision that we have taken, and that is that we will certainly not field any aspirant from Northern Nigeria. We have zoned the position to southern Nigeria,” Usman said.
“So if any northerner comes now to want to contest elections, we certainly will not accept that.”
She said the party would allow its internal democratic process to determine its eventual flagbearer, stressing that no preferred aspirant had been identified.
“As for who, I can’t tell you now because then it won’t be democratic anymore. Whoever the people like and vote for during the primaries could be the candidate,” the former minister of finance said.
Usman also referenced a recent court ruling involving the party, describing the outcome as a validation of its position.
“To God be the glory, the case was thrown out because it lacked merit,” she noted, adding that the judge “stood on truth”.
She further indicated that the party may review the timetable for its congresses following a surge in membership, warning that sticking to the current schedule could exclude many new entrants.
“If we go ahead to stick to that date, to my mind, we are going to disenfranchise quite several people,” Usman said.
Although zoning is not provided for in the Nigerian Constitution, political parties often adopt the arrangement to promote equity and balance.
The decision mirrors the 2023 election cycle, when the LP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) both fielded southern candidates, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) left its ticket open.
In that election, Bola Tinubu of the APC emerged the winner, defeating PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, who came second, and LP’s Peter Obi, who placed third.
