By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised concern that recent court decisions affecting aspects of its 2027 general election timetable could create significant disruptions to election planning if not urgently resolved by appellate courts.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, expressed the concern during the Commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja, noting that conflicting judicial pronouncements have created uncertainty around key electoral timelines.
According to him, the Commission has already filed appeals against two Federal High Court judgments that questioned portions of INEC’s schedule of activities for the 2027 elections.
The disputed rulings examined whether INEC had the constitutional authority to compress or adjust timelines in a manner that could affect statutory provisions under the Electoral Act 2026, particularly those relating to political party processes.
While the courts upheld INEC’s general power to issue electoral timetables, they struck down or questioned certain compressed deadlines, especially those linked to candidate nomination and substitution procedures.
Amupitan explained that the Commission is seeking definitive interpretations from higher courts to ensure clarity and stability in its preparations for the upcoming polls.
He warned that inconsistencies in judicial interpretations could complicate electoral planning and undermine the smooth coordination of activities leading up to the 2027 elections.
The INEC chairman stressed that election management involves a series of interdependent processes, including party primaries, voter education, logistics planning, deployment of electoral materials, and the configuration of technology systems such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
He noted that while the Electoral Act provides timelines for some activities, several critical operational steps are not explicitly defined in law, making structured scheduling necessary for credible elections.
Amupitan further argued that logistical realities such as weather conditions, procurement timelines, terrain challenges, and technology deployment require careful coordination to avoid electoral disruptions.
Despite the legal uncertainties, he assured Nigerians that INEC remains committed to conducting the 2027 general election in line with constitutional provisions and judicial authority.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has linked ongoing disputes among political parties to provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly the restriction of party primaries to direct and consensus models.
IPAC National Chairman, Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, argued that the removal of indirect primaries has contributed to internal tensions, disputes, and legal challenges within political parties.
He maintained that many parties struggled to manage internal competition during their nomination processes, with some aspirants alleging exclusion or lack of transparency.
Dantalle called on the National Assembly to urgently review the Electoral Act to restore greater flexibility in party primaries and strengthen internal democracy.
He also raised concerns over tight deadlines for submission of party membership registers and the use of identification systems, warning that administrative bottlenecks may disenfranchise genuine members.
IPAC warned that without urgent reforms, the electoral environment ahead of 2027 could become increasingly unstable and litigation-prone.
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