- The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prioritize the restoration of public trust over concerns regarding internal party disputes.
- National Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson stated that the true cause of voter disengagement is the widespread perception that the electoral process is compromised, rather than friction within political parties.
- This response follows a statement from INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan regarding a review of the 2022 guidelines to align with the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026, aimed at sanitizing political operations.
In a direct appeal for institutional reform, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has argued that a deep-seated crisis of confidence in the system is the primary reason Nigerians are staying away from polling units.
Eko Hot Blog reports that reacting to recent statements from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about the administrative burden of party litigations, NNPP National Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson noted that while legal battles are a distraction, they are not the root of the problem.
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He insisted that voters are disillusioned because they believe their ballots do not count and that the system is susceptible to being rigged against the popular will.
Johnson’s statement, released on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, calls on the commission to move beyond administrative excuses and prove its transparency as an unbiased arbiter.
The party maintains that even if all political parties achieved perfect internal stability, voter participation would remain low as long as the public perceives the umpire as complicit in subverting democratic outcomes.
The NNPP has therefore urged the commission to take a hard look in the mirror and implement reforms that focus on the sanctity of the vote rather than just procedural efficiency.
Meanwhile, INEC is already moving to update its regulatory framework.
At a technical workshop held in Ikot Ekpene, the commission’s Chairman, Joash Amupitan, revealed that a review is underway to harmonize existing guidelines with the Electoral Act 2026.
Amupitan stressed that these changes are necessary to modernize the commission’s operations and address the challenges of political party management in a changing democratic landscape.
He called on stakeholders to ensure that the new regulations reflect the genuine aspirations of the Nigerian people.
The tension between the commission and the opposition highlights the high stakes as the country looks toward the 2027 general elections.
While the commission seeks to streamline its operations through the new 2026 Act, the NNPP and other observers remain skeptical, emphasizing that technical updates must be backed by a demonstrable commitment to fairness.
As the review process continues, the focus will remain on whether these new guidelines can bridge the gap between the electoral body and a skeptical voting public.
