Party crises distracting us, fueling apathy – INEC
Political Turmoil Diverts INEC’s Focus From Election Planning, Contributes to Voter Apathy
By Henry Umoru, Omeiza Ajayi & John Alechenu
ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) expressed concerns on Monday regarding ongoing leadership battles and intra-party disputes that distract from essential election preparations and contribute to voter apathy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
During a three-day Technical Review Workshop in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan highlighted the need to address these challenges as the Commission undertakes a comprehensive review of its Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026.
The workshop, supported by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, aims to reinforce the electoral framework in anticipation of the upcoming elections. Amupitan emphasized, “The quality of internal party democracy has a direct bearing on the elections conducted by INEC. Each day spent defending avoidable intra-party disputes is a day diverted from our primary mandate of election planning.”
He also assured that while INEC remains neutral, it will enforce compliance with electoral regulations firmly and consistently.
New Guidelines to Enhance Transparency and Inclusion
Amupitan announced that the revised regulations would implement stricter standards for financial transparency and documentation of party membership, as well as the inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
“We are not just editing a document. We are aligning our Regulations and Guidelines with the 2026 Act to ensure that our electoral framework is robust both in theory and practice,” he stated. “The sovereign will of the Nigerian people must remain sacrosanct from candidate nomination to the final declaration of results.”
As part of the updated schedule, presidential and National Assembly elections are set for January 16, 2027, followed by governorship and state assembly elections on February 6, 2027. Party primaries will occur between April 23 and May 30, 2026.
Dr. Baba Bila, the National Commissioner and Chair of the Election and Party Monitoring Committee, deemed the review a strategic necessity that addresses the requirements of the new electoral legislation.
Mr. Adebowale Olorunmola, Country Director of WFD Nigeria, urged political parties to evolve into inclusive and internally democratic institutions to uphold the integrity of the 2027 elections.
Political Leaders React to INEC’s Statements
INEC’s remarks received criticism from various political leaders, who accused the Commission of deflecting responsibility rather than working to rebuild public trust in the electoral process.
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) argued that while internal party issues present administrative challenges, they are secondary to a broader crisis of public confidence in the electoral system. NNPP National Publicity Secretary Bamofin Ladipo Johnson expressed that the perception of electoral fraud is the most significant factor driving voter apathy. He stated, “This crisis of confidence is the primary driver of voter apathy. Until INEC demonstrates absolute transparency, no amount of internal party stability will bring Nigerians back to the polls.”
Senator Victor Umeh of Anambra Central echoed these sentiments, asserting that citizens’ interest in elections could only be rekindled through credible and transparent polls.
In contrast, Senator Neda Imasuen, chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics, cited ongoing party disputes and conflicting court rulings as factors that create challenges for INEC, potentially leading to voter disengagement.
Former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Chief Peter Ameh, called on INEC to take responsibility for its role in voter apathy, urging the Commission to address the trust deficit stemming from past elections. He stated, “There is a trust deficit between the votes cast and counted and what INEC eventually declared.”
As the Commission revises its guidelines under the Electoral Act 2026, the focus on transparency and integrity will be crucial. With party primaries on the horizon, many Nigerians are more concerned with whether their votes will genuinely count in the upcoming elections, as the political landscape begins to take shape for 2027.
