BY EMMA PETER, ABUJA
A new electoral assessment has identified weaknesses in the conduct of political party primaries, access to nomination records, candidate selection and dispute resolution that could affect confidence in Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The assessment, contained in the September 2026 “Before the Ballot: From Nominations to Electoral Confidence” policy brief, examined the nomination process and preparations for the 2027–2031 electoral cycle.
The report said unresolved disputes, limited access to party records and weaknesses in internal party procedures remained important issues requiring attention before the elections.
It specifically noted that aspirants and observers had limited access to membership registers, accreditation figures, primary results, appeal decisions and other documents required to independently scrutinise party nomination processes.
According to the assessment, although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) provided aggregate assurances that political parties had submitted required data within stipulated deadlines, the available information did not always enable stakeholders to independently verify claims of compliance.
The report also raised concerns about the degree of control retained by party leadership after voting, noting that negotiations, appeals and subsequent submissions could influence the final nomination outcomes.
It cited observations from Abuja and Ibadan North where, among other issues, accreditation could not be fully verified against membership registers. In one instance, a late venue change reportedly affected access to the process.
The assessment further highlighted the financial burden associated with nomination forms, saying the cost of securing tickets had become a significant barrier to participation for some aspirants.
It cited examples in which nomination forms for some federal positions reached tens of millions of naira, while also noting additional expenses relating to mobilisation, security and organisation.
On candidate lists, the report stated that the final field contained 18 presidential tickets, 1,303 senatorial candidates and 3,530 House of Representatives candidates, with the legislative field described as 15.2 per cent larger than in the previous cycle.
The assessment also observed continuing political and legal disputes around some candidate nominations, including instances where party-level reviews, litigation or other interventions affected previously announced candidates.
It said at least 79 serving senators and 258 members of the House of Representatives appeared on the candidate lists, although it clarified that the figures were based on its own review and should not be treated as an official INEC incumbent count.
The report further identified cases involving candidate substitutions, exclusions and unsuccessful nomination bids, saying such developments demonstrated the continuing importance of transparent and accessible nomination procedures.
The assessment recommended that political parties improve access to membership records and nomination documents, establish clearer internal procedures for resolving disputes and provide effective opportunities for members to participate in candidate selection.
It also called for nomination processes to be more transparent, with clear deadlines for appeals and mechanisms for affected aspirants to challenge disputed decisions.
On election preparations, the report urged political parties to translate their commitments under the Peace Accord into concrete campaign practices, while calling on INEC and other stakeholders to make administrative and technological procedures easier for candidates, political parties, observers and voters to understand.
It further recommended that election officials and security agencies maintain impartiality and that political parties, candidates and supporters respect electoral rules throughout the campaign and voting periods.
The report said unresolved disputes should be addressed early enough to prevent them from extending into the campaign and election periods.
It also called for measures to strengthen the participation of women, young people and persons with disabilities in the electoral process, including through party-level inclusion mechanisms.
The assessment concluded that rebuilding confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process would require improvements in both party nomination practices and election administration.
It recommended that INEC, political parties and other electoral stakeholders address identified deficiencies before polling, while ensuring that election results and collation procedures remain sufficiently transparent for stakeholders to scrutinise.
The report said timely resolution of nomination disputes, greater access to electoral information and stronger internal party procedures could contribute to improved confidence ahead of the 2027 elections.
Recent Nigerian election-monitoring reports have likewise documented disputes around party primaries, candidate submissions and the electoral timetable, underscoring the continuing importance of resolving pre-election issues before polling, according to Situation Room.
