INEC chairman seeks Electoral Act amendment to mandate early party primaries

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has called for an amendment to the Electoral Act to require political parties to conclude their primary elections at least one year before general elections.

Amupitan said the proposal would provide political parties with adequate time to resolve disputes arising from candidate nominations, thereby reducing election-related litigation.

The INEC chairman made the call while delivering the keynote address at the public presentation of Shadows: Protest Essays on Africa’s Most Consequential Country (1999–2023) in Abuja.

His remarks were contained in a statement posted on the commission’s X handle on Tuesday.

According to Amupitan, resolving disputes arising from party primaries well ahead of elections would enable INEC to concentrate on its constitutional responsibility of conducting credible elections instead of dealing with conflicts generated by political parties.

He noted that the majority of election-related litigation originates from disagreements over party primaries rather than issues arising during the conduct of elections.

“Most election-related legal disputes begin long before Nigerians cast their votes. If political parties conclude their primaries early and conduct them in a transparent, credible and inclusive manner, it will go a long way in reducing unnecessary litigation,” he said.

The INEC chairman stressed that political parties could strengthen Nigeria’s democracy by respecting their constitutions, adhering to their internal rules and giving members a genuine opportunity to choose their candidates.

He warned that the imposition of candidates, lack of transparency during party primaries and disregard for party guidelines had continued to fuel avoidable pre-election court cases, weaken public confidence and undermine the country’s electoral process.

“Strengthening internal democracy within political parties is as important as strengthening the nation’s electoral institutions,” Amupitan said.

He added that credible elections begin with a credible candidate selection process.

Amupitan also advocated constitutional and electoral reforms to grant INEC greater financial autonomy to enable it to discharge its responsibilities more effectively.

Although the Constitution places the commission’s funding on the first-line charge, he noted that INEC still operates under the annual budget system, a situation he said limits its operational efficiency.

To address the challenge, the INEC chairman proposed that the commission’s funding should come directly from the Federation Account to enable it to conduct voter registration, regulate political parties and organise elections without unnecessary administrative delays.