INEC laments internal party disputes distracting election planning ahead of 2027
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised concerns that recurring leadership tussles and prolonged intra-party disputes are distracting the commission from its core responsibility of planning elections and contributing to voter apathy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, spoke on the issue at the opening of a three-day Technical Review Workshop in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, where the commission began a review of its Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties in line with the Electoral Act 2026.
According to an INEC bulletin obtained in Abuja, the workshop, supported by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, is aimed at strengthening the electoral framework and ensuring compliance with the new law as preparations intensify for the 2027 polls.
Amupitan said the quality of internal party democracy directly affects the conduct of elections by the commission.
“The quality of internal party democracy has a direct bearing on the election conducted by INEC. Each day spent defending avoidable intra-party disputes is a day diverted from our primary mandate of election planning,” he said.
He added that while the commission will remain neutral, it will firmly enforce compliance with electoral laws.
“While the Commission remains neutral, it will enforce compliance firmly and consistently,” he said.
