The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) convened leaders of political parties at its Abuja headquarters on Tuesday to present new electoral guidelines for the 2027 general elections.
The meeting drew chairmen, secretaries, and representatives from major political parties, including Senator Nenadi Usman for the Labour Party, as well as Abdulrahman Mohammed and Samuel Anyanwu representing the Peoples Democratic Party.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the updated guidelines reflected provisions of the recently enacted Electoral Act 2026, underscoring that political parties and stakeholders must align with the new legal framework rather than relying on outdated procedures.
The Commission also outlined preparatory measures, including the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
Online pre-registration is scheduled to start on August 18, 2025, followed by in-person registration from August 25, 2025, allowing eligible Nigerians to register or update their voter information.
In addition, INEC is planning a nationwide voter register revalidation exercise to remove duplicates and deceased entries, strengthening the credibility of the electoral roll ahead of the polls.
Discussions at the meeting highlighted ongoing debates around electoral reforms, including provisions in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026 and the Senate’s position on real-time electronic transmission of results to INEC’s Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
Political activity is intensifying as the 2027 elections approach. President Bola Tinubu has secured endorsement from the All Progressives Congress (APC) for a second term.
Opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and Peter Obi, are exploring coalition options with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to challenge the ruling party.
The meeting reflects INEC’s commitment to ensuring the 2027 elections are conducted within a modernised and legally compliant framework, while giving political parties clarity on their roles and responsibilities under the new law
