From David Onuoja, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has engaged with Political Parties on its new Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of Political Parties’ Primary which it described as the basis for Voters Apathy, if not nip on the bud.
Professor Joash Amupitan, who is the Chairman of the Commission made the statement today during his meeting on the new Guidelines and Regulations with th Political Parties in Abuja.
He said unless the issue that creates voters apathy is nip in the bud, the continuous problem of voters aparthy will continue unabated.
According to him, “We meet today not merely as regulators and political actors, but as joint custodians of Nigeria’s democratic future. Early this month, the Commission commenced a rigorous technical retreat to review and reconstruct the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022. Today, we share the result of that exercise with you. As I have often maintained, credible elections begin long before polling day; they begin in the transparency of the processes that produce the candidates.
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“As you are all aware, these regulations have been formulated under the powers granted to INEC by our Constitution and the Electoral Act. They represent a significant review of the Regulations made in 2022, now meticulously aligned with the recently enacted Electoral Act of 2026. We cannot navigate a 2027 horizon using a 2022 map.
“It is our hope that these updated guidelines will foster a more transparent, fair, and equitable electoral landscape for all stakeholders involved”, he said.
On the Registration and Merger of Political Parties, he added that “We have streamlined the process to ensure that it is more accessible while maintaining a robust framework that upholds democratic principles.
Speaking also on Political Party Operations, he said, ‘Clear guidelines have been instituted to govern the day-to-day functioning of political parties, ensuring compliance with our laws and promoting accountability. This aims at sanitising party primaries, which intends to end the era of opaque processes that impose unpopular candidates, fueling voter apathy and a deluge of avoidable litigation’.
Professor Amupitan equally spoke on Finances and Election Expenses which he said “We have established clear standards regarding the financing of political activities, emphasising the need for transparency and accountability in managing party funds and campaign expenses.
While saying that, deregistration of Political Parties have also been included in the provisions that define the circumstances under which a political party may be deregistered, ensuring that the process is just and equitable.
“By sharpening these rules, we are protecting the sovereign will of the Nigerian people from the point of nomination to the final declaration of results”, Amupitan declared.
