PHOTOS: INEC Appeals Court Rulings Challenging 2027 Election Timetable
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has moved to challenge two recent Federal High Court judgments that questioned aspects of its timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 General Election, warning that conflicting legal interpretations could create uncertainty and affect electoral preparations nationwide.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday during the Commission’s Second Quarterly Consultative Meeting with leaders of political parties held at the electoral body’s headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking at the meeting, Amupitan explained that the Commission’s decision to approach the appellate courts was aimed at securing definitive legal clarity on its constitutional and statutory authority to coordinate electoral activities ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to him, the first case, Youth Party v. INEC (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026), delivered on May 20, 2026, questioned certain timelines contained in the Commission’s election schedule. A second judgment in Social Democratic Party (SDP) v. INEC (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/720/2026), delivered on May 26, 2026, upheld INEC’s power to issue election timetables but invalidated some timelines relating to the nomination and substitution of candidates.
The INEC Chairman noted that both judgments raised significant legal questions regarding the extent of the Commission’s powers in managing and regulating electoral processes.
He emphasized that electoral activities are interconnected and cannot be treated as isolated events. According to him, several critical processes required for successful elections are not assigned specific timelines under the Electoral Act but must still be incorporated into a workable electoral calendar.
These activities include the submission and verification of party membership registers, monitoring of party primaries across the country, uploading of primary election results to INEC’s portal, printing of ballot papers and result sheets, quality assurance procedures, configuration of BVAS machines, and compliance with statutory requirements for political parties to inspect election materials.
Amupitan stressed that harmonizing all election-related activities within a single framework is necessary to guarantee transparency, certainty, administrative efficiency, and equal treatment for all political parties participating in the electoral process.
“The Commission considers it essential that all electoral activities are coordinated within a coherent and practical framework that promotes certainty, transparency, efficiency, and fairness,” he stated.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, the INEC Chairman reassured political stakeholders and Nigerians that the Commission remains committed to conducting the 2027 General Election in full compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
Ekiti Governorship Election Preparations on Track
Amupitan also provided an update on preparations for the forthcoming governorship election in Ekiti State, scheduled for June 20, 2026.
He revealed that the state’s voter register now contains 1,059,360 registered voters following the addition of 66,664 new registrants through the Continuous Voter Registration exercise. The updated figure was derived from the 2023 voter register, which stood at 987,647 voters.
The Commission also invalidated 2,103 cases of double registration as part of efforts to maintain the integrity and credibility of the electoral register.
According to the INEC Chairman, logistics deployment, election technology preparations, and training of ad hoc officials are progressing according to schedule. He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that all 2,445 polling units across the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State open simultaneously at 8:30 a.m. on election day.
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The latest legal developments are expected to shape discussions on electoral administration as Nigeria intensifies preparations for the 2027 General Election.
