The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has urged the National Assembly to undertake sweeping reforms of Nigeria’s electoral system as part of the ongoing constitutional review process, to strengthen democracy and ensure credible elections ahead of the 2027 general polls.
Speaking during a presentation before the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters of the Senate and House of Representatives in Abuja on Monday, IPAC Deputy Chairman, Dipo Olayokun, who represented the National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, outlined several key recommendations aimed at deepening electoral integrity and citizens’ trust in the system.
Olayokun emphasized that as an umbrella body representing all registered political parties in Nigeria, IPAC’s position reflects a collective desire for reforms that will make the process more transparent, inclusive, and democratic.
“What we are saying is that all of us are looking for ways to enhance our electoral system to make it more democratic and more acceptable to Nigerians,” he said, calling on lawmakers to amend the Electoral Act to better serve the public interest.
A major recommendation presented by IPAC is the conclusion of all election petitions before the swearing-in of declared winners. Olayokun argued that this reform would prevent elected officials from using state resources to defend legal challenges and promote fairness in the electoral process.
“We specifically mentioned the issue of litigation — that the electoral act should ensure that litigations arising from elections are concluded before winners are sworn in,” he added.
The council also pushed for greater transparency and credibility by proposing that the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the electronic transmission of results through the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) be made mandatory, not optional.
“The new law should make it mandatory, not optional,” Olayokun stressed. He also called for stronger legal guarantees to protect the right of every eligible citizen to vote.
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Olayokun confirmed that IPAC’s proposals have been formally submitted to the committee for consideration, acknowledging the legislature’s critical role in determining the feasibility and implementation of the suggested reforms.
“They are the ones that have the information to know which recommendations are feasible and which are not,” he said, noting that IPAC also made submissions on reducing election costs and curbing the bandwagon effect in voting patterns.
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