JUST IN: Political Parties Threaten Boycott 2027 Elections Over New Electoral Act

Political parties in Nigeria have warned that they may boycott the 2027 general elections if controversial provisions in the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026 are not urgently reviewed.

The warning was issued on Thursday by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), the umbrella body representing registered political parties in the country.

The council expressed deep concern that several sections of the new law could weaken Nigeria’s multiparty democracy and undermine confidence in the electoral system ahead of the next national polls.

The position was made known after an emergency meeting involving leaders and representatives of political parties at the council’s national secretariat in Abuja.

Speaking after the meeting, IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, said the council acknowledged the effort that went into passing the Electoral Act 2026 but warned that some provisions of the law could create fresh challenges for the country’s democratic process.

According to him, while the legislation was expected to improve on the Electoral Act 2022, certain sections of the new law now threaten the ability of political parties to operate freely and manage their internal affairs.

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.”

One of the key concerns raised by the council is Section 84(2) of the Act, which excludes the use of indirect primaries in the selection of party candidates.

Dantalle argued that the provision interferes with the constitutional rights of political parties to determine how they conduct their internal processes.

He said, “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 raised concerns about the absence of mandatory electronic transmission of election results in the new law.

According to IPAC, the failure to clearly provide for electronic transmission of results from polling units could create room for disputes and controversies similar to those witnessed during the 2023 presidential election.

Dantalle stressed that the provision must be restored to strengthen transparency in the electoral process.

He 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.”

Another issue raised by the council is the requirement that members of political parties must upload their National Identification Number (NIN) during registration.

IPAC warned that the policy could disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who do not have access to the national identification system.

He said, “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.”

The council also called for the removal of Sections 77(4–7) of the Act, stronger penalties for vote buying, and the restoration of forged academic certificates as valid grounds for election petitions.

IPAC warned that it would not remain silent if the concerns are ignored by lawmakers.

Dantalle said the council had resolved to alert Nigerians and the international community about what it described as dangerous provisions in the new law.

He said, “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 (UN), the European Union (EU), ECOWAS, the US and UK embassies and Nigerians in the diaspora to these concerns.”

The council further warned that failure by the National Assembly to amend the controversial sections of the Act could lead to a boycott of the 2027 elections by political parties across the country.

He said, “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.”

The controversy comes weeks after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026 into law at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, following its passage by the National Assembly as part of efforts to reform Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the next general election.