Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has warned that political parties across Nigeria may boycott the 2027 general elections if controversial provisions in the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026 are not urgently amended.
The umbrella body of registered political parties said the law, recently signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, contains provisions capable of undermining internal party democracy and weakening the credibility of the electoral process.
Speaking with journalists after an emergency meeting with leaders and representatives of political parties at the council’s national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, said the council had resolved to mobilise parties nationwide to resist the provisions if the National Assembly of Nigeria fails to correct them.
Dantalle acknowledged that the Electoral Act 2026 was meant to address gaps in the Electoral Act 2022 but warned that some sections of the new legislation had created fresh challenges that could weaken multiparty democracy.
He said: “While appreciating the considerable effort and energy invested in the enactment of the new Electoral Act 2026, the council notes with concern that certain provisions in the Act have introduced new issues that are not conducive to the development of political parties, particularly in view of IPAC’s guiding principle of ‘Deepening Democracy in Nigeria.’
“Unfortunately, there are clear indications that some aspects of the new Electoral Act 2026 undermine this fundamental objective and are inconsistent with the spirit of multiparty democracy.”
IPAC particularly faulted Section 84(2) of the Act, which excludes the use of indirect primaries by political parties, describing it as a violation of the constitutional rights of parties to manage their internal affairs.
Dantalle stated: “It is an established principle, affirmed by several judicial pronouncements, that political parties possess certain fundamental rights in the administration of their internal affairs.
“However, the new Electoral Act 2026 has curtailed this right through Section 84(2), which excludes indirect primaries.
“IPAC believes that the exclusion of indirect primaries constitutes a violation of the constitutional right of political parties to regulate their internal affairs, including determining the method of nominating their candidates for elections.”
The council also criticised the removal of mandatory electronic transmission of election results, saying its absence contributed to controversies that trailed the 2023 Nigerian presidential election.
IPAC further objected to the requirement that political party members must upload their National Identification Number (NIN) during membership registration, warning that the provision could disenfranchise millions of Nigerians.
Dantalle said: “The mandatory electronic transmission of election results after announcement at polling units must be restored. Its absence was a major flaw during the 2023 presidential election, and such a lapse must not be allowed to undermine future elections, including the 2027 general elections.
“The requirement that members of political parties must possess and upload their National Identification Number (NIN) should be expunged.
“This provision will disenfranchise a significant number of Nigerians who do not have access to NIN and constitutes a violation of their rights under Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
Other areas the council demanded should be amended include the expungement of Sections 77(4–7), the introduction of stronger penalties for vote-buying, and the restoration of forged certificates as grounds for election petitions.
IPAC warned that it would escalate the matter to the international community if its concerns were ignored.
“In the present circumstances, IPAC cannot fold its arms. The time to act is now. Accordingly, IPAC has resolved to draw the attention of Nigerians and the international community, including the United Nations, European Union, Economic Community of West African States, the US and UK embassies, and Nigerians in the diaspora to these concerns.
“Should the National Assembly fail to address these anomalies through urgent amendments to the Act, political parties under the umbrella of IPAC will be compelled to boycott the 2027 general elections.
“In such circumstances, the outcome of the elections will be rejected as illegitimate and will not be recognised by the political parties.”
President Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law on February 18 at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, following its passage by the National Assembly.
However, the amendment has sparked renewed debate over electronic transmission of election results, a reform strongly demanded by civil society organisations and opposition parties.
Last month, protesters stormed the National Assembly complex in Abuja, demanding real-time transmission of results from polling units to the server of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
They cited failures during the 2023 elections when the commission’s Results Viewing Portal collapsed, triggering widespread allegations of manipulation.
