2027 Elections: EU-SDGN II Report Flags Gaps in Party Primaries, Calls for Greater Transparency
By Pan Afric Reporters
A new civil society-focused report on Nigeria’s 2026 political party primaries has raised concerns over transparency, internal party democracy and access to remedies ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging political parties, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary and security agencies to strengthen accountability throughout the electoral process.
The report, titled Before the Ballot, was released under the European Union-funded EU-SDGN II programme and examines the conduct of the 2026 party primaries and candidate nomination process following electoral reforms, including INEC’s candidate lists published on September 12.
According to the report, although the reforms introduced direct primaries and formally gave party members a vote in selecting candidates, key aspects of the nomination process—including the issuance of nomination forms, screening, consensus arrangements, internal appeals and submission of candidates to INEC—remained largely controlled by party leaderships in the cases examined.
It said limited public access to party rules, membership registers, result sheets and INEC monitoring findings made it difficult for aspirants, party members and observers to independently verify compliance with applicable rules or pursue challenges within the statutory 14-day period.
The report also highlighted the financial barriers associated with seeking party nominations, noting that presidential nomination forms cost as much as ₦100 million, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) set nomination fees at ₦20 million for Senate aspirants and ₦10 million for House of Representatives aspirants.
It warned that high nomination costs could increase aspirants’ reliance on financial sponsors, with potential implications for political participation and the inclusiveness of the candidate-selection process.
On gender representation, the report said women constitute 346 of the 3,560 candidates for the House of Representatives, representing 9.7 per cent, compared with 9.2 per cent in 2023. It further noted that 160 constituencies have no female candidate.
The report also drew attention to pending litigation arising from the interpretation of membership-based eligibility provisions under the Electoral Act 2026. It referenced the Court of Appeal judgment of July 16 in Zenith Labour Party v INEC, while noting that the Supreme Court heard INEC’s appeal on September 16 and has reserved judgment.
On the current candidate lists, the report said the federal lists contain 18 presidential tickets, 1,303 Senate candidates and 3,560 House of Representatives candidates, adding that every National Assembly seat has more than one candidate. It cautioned that pending court cases could still result in amendments to the lists.
The report described candidate nomination as “an early and important stage of the electoral process,” stressing that decisions made before polling can significantly shape participation and the integrity of the electoral contest.
Ahead of the 2027 elections, it recommended that political parties disclose the reasons and supporting records behind disputed candidate selections and replacements to affected aspirants, while urging INEC to publish relevant monitoring findings from party primaries and explain changes made to candidate lists.
It also called on the judiciary to deliver reasoned judgments within timelines that allow electoral institutions and political parties to implement court decisions before critical election deadlines.
The report urged political parties to translate their commitments under the Peace Accord into practical guidance for party officials and supporters, while calling on security agencies to provide impartial protection for political activities and communicate their responses to reported incidents.
For the 2027–2031 electoral cycle, the report recommended a review of nomination fees, the establishment of independent internal appeal panels within political parties, publication of party rules and primary results, and enforceable measures to improve the participation of women, young people and persons with disabilities.
It further proposed a joint review by the National Assembly, INEC and the judiciary of nomination and election-litigation timelines, with the objective of reducing uncertainty and ensuring that disputes are resolved in sufficient time to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
