INEC warns that court rulings on its 2027 election timetable may disrupt preparations unless clarified by appellate courts
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that recent court rulings affecting its timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election could disrupt ongoing preparations if not urgently clarified by appellate courts.
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INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, raised the concern on Tuesday in Abuja during the Commission’s second quarterly consultative meeting with political party leaders.
He said INEC had already filed appeals against two Federal High Court judgments that questioned key timelines contained in the Commission’s 2027 election schedule.
The timetable dispute reflects the growing legal uncertainty surrounding the planning framework for the next general elections.
Amupitan noted that while INEC respects judicial decisions, the rulings raise important constitutional questions about the Commission’s authority to regulate electoral timelines.
The Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier delivered two judgments striking out aspects of INEC’s compressed timetable for the 2027 elections.
The court held that although INEC can issue election schedules, it cannot use administrative guidelines to shorten statutory timelines guaranteed to political parties under the Electoral Act 2026.
In Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, Youth Party v. INEC, the court questioned several timelines in the election schedule.
In a separate ruling in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/720/2026, Social Democratic Party v. INEC, the court upheld INEC’s power to issue a timetable but nullified provisions relating to candidate nomination and substitution periods.
Amupitan said the conflicting interpretations have made it necessary for appellate courts to provide clear guidance.
“In view of the differing conclusions reached in the judgments… the Commission has filed appeals and taken necessary legal steps to obtain authoritative pronouncements,” he said.
He explained that election planning involves interconnected processes that go beyond those explicitly stated in the Electoral Act.
These include party membership verification, monitoring of primaries, candidate nomination processing, ballot printing, training of officials, voter education, and deployment of election materials.
He warned that removing coordinated timelines for such activities could create uncertainty and undermine efficient election management.
Amupitan also highlighted logistical and environmental factors such as weather conditions, terrain, procurement of sensitive materials, and BVAS configuration as key considerations in scheduling.
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting the 2027 general election in line with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and valid court rulings.
At the same meeting, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Chairman, Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, criticised the exclusion of indirect primaries under the Electoral Act 2026.
He argued that limiting parties to direct and consensus primaries has created tensions, disputes, and operational difficulties during nomination processes.
Dantalle urged the National Assembly to review the law to restore flexibility and strengthen internal democracy within political parties.
He also raised concerns about tight deadlines for submission of membership registers, including NIN-linked records, saying some genuine party members were excluded due to logistical challenges.
Also read: NDC Denies Releasing Official Primary Election Results Nationwide
IPAC warned that recent experiences show unintended consequences of the current electoral framework and called for urgent reforms ahead of the 2027 elections.
