The Independent National Electoral Commission has raised concern over what it described as “unnecessary litigations” and persistent internal leadership crises within political parties.
It warned that the trend is undermining its commitment to democratic consolidation.
The Chairman of the commission, Prof Joash Amupitan (SAN), expressed concern on Wednesday at a technical workshop on the revision of INEC regulations and guidelines for political parties, organised in partnership with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
The technical workshop was organised to align party guidelines with changes introduced in the Electoral Act 2026 (as amended).
The National Assembly passed the Electoral Act on February 18, 2026, and it was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on February 19, 2026.
Amupitan, speaking at the event, lamented that rather than serving as vehicles for national transformation, political parties were witnessing a disturbing pattern of leadership disputes and internal conflicts.
“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,” he said.
Amupitan added, “Political parties in Nigeria face a 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.”
The commission boss also lamented the trend of leadership squabbles and infighting in political parties.
“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 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 added.
The INEC chairman expressed confidence that the workshop would analyse key provisions of the new Electoral Act and identify necessary amendments to existing regulations and guidelines for political parties.
In his goodwill message, the Country Director of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, Adebowale Olorunmola, said the guidelines must be strengthened to align with changes introduced in the new Electoral Act.
“The 2022 edition of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines served us well in the conduct of the 2023 general elections and 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,” he said.
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Obo Efanga (SAN), described the workshop as strategic and timely, noting that the review of the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022, was necessary to reflect the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
Efanga explained that the document regulates the registration, statutory compliance, administration, conduct and monitoring of political parties and their activities, making its review essential to strengthening the electoral process.
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