The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has warned that political parties under its umbrella may boycott the 2027 general elections if the National Assembly fails to amend certain contentious provisions in the Electoral Act 2026.
The council said failure to address the concerns raised by political parties could render the outcome of the elections unacceptable and illegitimate in the eyes of participating parties.
This position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of IPAC’s Expanded General Assembly meeting held in Abuja. The communiqué was jointly signed by the council’s Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, and National Secretary, Maxwell Mgbudem.
According to IPAC, several provisions in the newly enacted Electoral Act could undermine political party development and weaken Nigeria’s multiparty democratic system if left unaddressed.
The council outlined six key areas requiring urgent legislative amendments.
Among its demands, IPAC called for the restoration of indirect primaries, arguing that political parties should retain the constitutional right to determine their preferred method for selecting candidates for elections.
The council also urged lawmakers to remove the requirement that party members must possess and upload their National Identification Number (NIN) as part of the party membership process. It warned that such a provision could disenfranchise many Nigerians who do not yet have access to the national identification system.
In addition, IPAC demanded the expungement of Sections 77(4), (5), (6), and (7) of the Electoral Act, stating that the provisions infringe on citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of association.
The council further called for the restoration of mandatory electronic transmission of election results immediately after their announcement at polling units. According to IPAC, the absence of this provision contributed to controversies during the 2023 presidential election and should not be repeated in future polls.
IPAC also advocated stronger legal penalties for vote buying, describing the practice as one of the most damaging electoral malpractices that continues to undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Another major concern raised by the council is the removal of forged certificates as valid grounds for election petitions. IPAC warned that eliminating this provision could allow individuals with questionable credentials to contest for and occupy public office.
The council stressed that credible leadership remains a cornerstone of democratic governance, cautioning that weakening such safeguards could harm Nigeria’s democratic institutions and its reputation within the international community.
IPAC also revealed plans to notify the international community—including the United Nations, the European Union, ECOWAS, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Nigerians in the diaspora—about its concerns regarding the law.
Furthermore, the council stated that it reserves the right to approach the courts to challenge what it described as objectionable provisions in the Electoral Act 2026.
IPAC urged the National Assembly to urgently review and align the law with constitutional provisions in order to prevent avoidable legal disputes and ensure that the 2027 general elections are free, fair, and credible.
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