By Prevail Inegbenose
The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Programme phase 11 has raised concerns over the transparency and verifiability of political party nomination processes ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying reforms have made nominations more formal while leaving important stages difficult to verify.
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The assessment was presented on Tuesday in Abuja during a roundtable dialogue on “Electoral Credibility: Findings from the Assessment of the 2026 Political Party Primaries”, where participants examined the conduct of party primaries and their implications for the credibility of the 2027 elections.
The EU-SDGN assessment identified control over key decision points—including screening, membership records, access to funds, venues and accreditation, certification and the submission of candidates—as continuing features of the nomination process.
It said that while the shift away from indirect primaries had introduced more formal requirements, the process did not necessarily provide a clear, verifiable trail showing how an aspirant moved from membership and screening through the primary to the final candidate list.
A major concern was the role and limitations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The assessment noted that INEC deployed monitors to party primary venues and collected information at different stages, while monitoring was also conducted from its state offices and headquarters.
However, the findings gathered through the monitoring process were largely internal, making it difficult for stakeholders and the public to determine whether identified breaches resulted in corrective action.
The assessment further observed that the legal framework did not always clearly establish the consequences of non-compliance. It cited instances involving changes to venues, noting that although parties were required to provide notice, venues could in practice be changed at very short notice, leaving questions about what sanctions should follow.
“INEC has a lot of information, but also lacks the real mandate to act on this information,” the assessment noted, while also highlighting the absence of clearly defined consequences for some forms of non-compliance.
The assessment also raised concerns over the accessibility of party regulations. Although political parties were required to submit their regulations and amended constitutions to INEC, these documents were not always readily available to party members, aspirants and other stakeholders.
It said the lack of access was significant because the documents define the internal rules governing the nomination process.
On screening, the assessment found that the process remained insufficiently transparent in some cases, with reasons for accepting or excluding aspirants not always communicated to those affected.
It also identified accessibility and participation barriers for less-advantaged aspirants, particularly women and persons with disabilities.
The consensus option introduced another challenge, according to the assessment. Where aspirants agree to step down in favour of a consensus candidate, the withdrawal of one aspirant shortly before the deadline could create difficulties because the party might no longer have sufficient time to organise a direct primary.
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The assessment described this as a gap requiring attention in the legal framework.
It also raised concerns about selective access to information during direct primaries, saying some aspirants were informed about venues, timing and procedures while others were allegedly left without adequate information, making effective participation more difficult.
The EU-SDGN assessment therefore called for a “verifiable nomination trail” linking membership verification, participation in the primary, counting and review of results, appeals, certification and the eventual candidate list submitted to INEC.
It recommended that parties disclose their selection rules, screening decisions, primary results, consensus records and appeal outcomes, while explaining withdrawals, replacements and certifications.
INEC, it said, should also make relevant monitoring findings and candidate-list changes more transparent and provide affected aspirants with access to records needed to trace the nomination process.
The assessment proposed measures that could be implemented before the 2027 elections under what it described as “Horizon One”, summarised as settle, explain, inform, protect and mediate.
Among other recommendations, it called for disputes capable of changing candidate lists to be resolved early; improved voter access to candidate and policy information; greater inclusion of women, youth and persons with disabilities; stronger protection for candidates, election workers, observers and journalists; and clearer mechanisms for resolving electoral disputes.
It also proposed a public litigation tracker to enable stakeholders to follow pending electoral cases.
The assessment identified seven broad findings, including the continued significance of gatekeeping and patronage despite the elimination of indirect primaries; uncertainty over how INEC’s monitoring information was being used; persistent inclusion challenges; the need for greater legal clarity around direct primaries and consensus; the importance of timely information for aspirants; and the potential impact of prolonged legal disputes on confidence in the electoral process.
The findings come as preparations for the 2027 elections continue. INEC’s revised political-party guidelines are also being developed around the Electoral Act 2026, with transparency in candidate selection identified as an important component of electoral credibility.
The EU-SDGN assessment ultimately stressed that transparency should not end with the announcement of a primary result. Rather, stakeholders should be able to trace the eventual candidate on the ballot back through a documented and verifiable nomination process.
That, it suggested, would be critical to strengthening confidence in the political parties’ nomination processes and, ultimately, the credibility of the 2027 elections.
The EU-SDGN II programme underscores the European Union’s strong commitment to supporting a democratic Nigeria that is pluralistic, inclusive, and participatory.
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Spark News reports that the chairman of INEC and the Inspector General of Police were represented at the event.