The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled draft regulations aimed at tackling opaque party primaries and unchecked campaign spending ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The proposals were presented on Tuesday at a consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja.

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, said the reforms are designed to end candidate imposition, deepen internal democracy, and rebuild public confidence in the electoral process.

“Credible elections begin long before polling day; they start with transparent processes that produce candidates,” he said.

Amupitan linked flawed primaries to voter apathy and the growing wave of election-related litigation.

The proposed 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties represent a major overhaul of the 2022 framework and align with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. They address party registration and mergers, internal governance, campaign activities, and conditions for deregistration.

According to him, the new rules introduce clearer procedures for primaries, tighter controls on campaign conduct, and stricter standards for financial transparency and accountability.

He also highlighted fresh provisions on election spending, in line with Section 93(2) of the Electoral Act, which empowers INEC to set limits in consultation with political parties.

The reforms come as the commission operates under a compressed electoral timetable, with presidential and National Assembly elections slated for January 16, 2027, and governorship and state assembly polls set for February 6, 2027.

Amupitan said the shortened timelines demand “surgical precision” in planning and execution.

He added that the draft includes measurable benchmarks to boost the participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities. The reforms, he noted, were informed by findings from the Political Party Performance Index—developed with support from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy—which exposed a “disturbing gap” between party constitutions and grassroots realities.

Describing the regulations as protective rather than restrictive, Amupitan urged political parties to engage constructively with the process.

“INEC remains a neutral umpire, but we will not be passive observers to the erosion of democratic values,” he said.

“By strengthening these rules, we are safeguarding the will of the Nigerian people—from nomination to final declaration of results.”

The commission said it is seeking stakeholder input before finalising the regulations that will guide political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.