The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed tighter controls on how political parties conduct primaries and manage campaign finances ahead of the 2027 general elections. INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan unveiled the proposals on Tuesday in Abuja during a consultative meeting with leaders of political parties.
The commission is seeking to amend its regulations and guidelines to address recurring challenges such as violent primaries, imposition of candidates, and infractions on campaign spending limits. Under the new proposals, parties would be required to give INEC at least 21 days’ notice before conducting primaries, a change from the current 15-day requirement.
The commission also wants to mandate that all party primaries be monitored by its officials, with strict sanctions for any party that fails to comply with the published guidelines. Additionally, INEC is proposing clearer rules on campaign financing, including stricter enforcement of expenditure limits for candidates and mandatory submission of detailed financial accounts.
Also Read: INEC proposes 873.78 Billion Naira Budget for 2027 Elections
The proposed regulations also seek to empower INEC to invalidate primaries that do not adhere to democratic principles or that violate the Electoral Act. Political parties have been given an opportunity to submit their feedback on the proposed amendments before they are formally adopted.
Leave feedback about this
You must be logged in to post a comment.