IPAC Rejects Electoral Act, Threatens 2027 Election Boycott

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), led by National Chairman Yusuf Dantal, has announced its rejection of the Electoral Act 2026, warning that political parties may boycott the 2027 general elections if the National Assembly fails to amend controversial provisions. During a meeting in Abuja, IPAC expressed concerns that certain sections of the new law, particularly Section 84(2), which excludes indirect primaries for political parties, violate constitutional rights and undermine internal party democracy.

The council criticized the removal of mandatory electronic transmission of election results, which they believe contributed to controversies in the 2023 presidential elections. Additionally, IPAC objected to the requirement for party members to upload their National Identification Number (NIN) for membership registration, stating that this could disenfranchise millions of Nigerians.

Dantal emphasized the need for urgent amendments to the act, warning that failure to address these issues could lead to a rejection of the election outcomes and a call for international attention, including from the United Nations and the European Union.