The Independent National Electoral Commission has raised the alarm over what it called ‘unnecessary litigation’ with billions of naira already expended, as well as internal leadership crises rocking political parties, saying the situation is threatening its commitment to democratic consolidation in the country.

The chairman of the Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, raised the concern at the Technical Workshop on Revision of INEC Regulations and Guidelines for political parties, organised by the commission in partnership with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, held in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, on Wednesday.

Amupitan lamented that rather than being used as vehicles for national transformations, political parties are currently witnessing a disturbing trend of leadership squabbles and infighting that threaten to turn them into theatres of permanent strife.

He noted that a day spent in defending these intra-party disputes in court is a day diverted from the primary mandate of election planning.

He said, ”Our collective commitment is being challenged by leadership squabbles and judicialised politics. In the last cycle alone, INEC was joined in scores of suits that could have been avoided by simple adherence to party constitutions. As an Independent body, we remain neutral, but we are no longer passive observers.

”Political parties in Nigeria face the crisis of internal democracy. Of grave concern is the quality of party primaries. As we move towards the primary window of April 23 to May 30, 2026, we must enforce a level playing field. The quality of internal party democracy has a direct bearing on the secondary election conducted by INEC.

”We are currently witnessing a disturbing trend of leadership squabbles and infighting that threaten to turn political parties into theatres of permanent strife rather than vehicles for national development.

”These frequent leadership tussles do more than just dilute party ideologies; they spill over into our courtrooms, resulting in a deluge of unnecessary litigations where INEC is routinely joined as a party.

”Each day spent defending these intra-party disputes is a day diverted from our primary mandate of election planning.”

He expressed confidence that the workshop will systematically analyse the key provisions of the new Electoral Act and identify the necessary amendments to the existing regulations and guidelines for political parties.

Delivering his goodwill message, the Country Director, Westminster Foundation for Democracy Mr. Adebowale Olorunmola, explained the need for the guidelines and regulations to also be improved in order to give bite to the electoral act, hence there are some changes in the passage and assent of the new Electoral Act

He said, ”The 2022 edition of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines served us well in the conduct of the 2023 general elections and other subsequent elections. However, “current realities” are no longer what they were four years ago. Today, we are tasked with bridging the gap between the letter of the 2026 Act and the practical, day-to-day operations of our political parties”

Earlier in the welcome remarks, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Obo Efanga, described the workshop as strategic and significant, noting that the review and updating of the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022, could not have come at a better time than now.

While noting that the workshop is designed to consider the implications of Electoral Act 2026 on its Regulations and Guidelines for various electoral activities, Efanga, said however that it is not a coincidence that the first Regulations and Guidelines to be reviewed is the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022 because, according to him, the document regulates the registration, statutory compliance, administration, conduct as well as the monitoring of political parties and all their activities.

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The Labour Party in Oyo State has said that the most competent candidate, irrespective of place of origin, would fly the party’s flag in the 2027 governorship election.

The party’s General  Secretary in the state, Mr Fatai Ojetunde, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan, Oyo, on Wednesday that the party was not swayed by sentiments that its candidate must emerge from a particular zone of the state.

“What we need is good governance; whether the person is from Ibadan, Ogbomoso or the most remote village in the state, once the person has the capacity to govern well and deliver dividends of democracy, we will pick such a candidate,” he said.

Ojetunde, a native of Ibadan from Oke-Adu in Lagelu Local Government Area, said every indigene of the state was qualified to aspire to the governorship under the platform of the party.

“Anybody from any part of the state is entitled to be governor as far as the Labour Party is concerned.

“Our focus is good governance that will benefit all residents of the state,” he said.

On the proposed rescheduling of the 2027 general elections to January, Ojetunde said the party had no objection to the development.

“So far, there is nothing bad in it. Whether it is January or February, the Labour Party is prepared.

“We are confident of victory in 2027,” Ojetunde said.

He, however, said that considerations such as religious observances in some parts of the country might have informed the adjustment of the election timetable.

Ojetunde said that the party had begun grassroots voter education as part of its strategies to secure better outcomes in 2027.

“One of the key strategies we are adopting is voter education. We are moving from ward to ward and house to house to sensitise the electorate.

“We are telling them that any money collected during elections will not sustain them beyond a few days, while they will have to live with the consequences of their choices for four years,” he said.

Ojetunde said that the party was not yet campaigning, but focusing on enlightening voters on the need to make informed decisions at the polls.

According to him, the party chairman, Mr Sadiq Atayese, places great emphasis on voter education as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections.

NAN