INEC Says Court Judgment on Timetable Threatens 2027 Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that recent Federal High Court judgments nullifying parts of its 2027 General Election timetable could significantly disrupt preparations for the polls and create operational challenges for the electoral process.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Commission’s Second Quarterly Consultative Meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), disclosed that the Commission had already filed appeals against two court rulings affecting its Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election.

According to Amupitan, the judgments challenge critical timelines contained in the electoral calendar and could undermine the orderly conduct of election preparations if allowed to stand. He stressed that the timetable is built around interconnected activities that cannot be separated without affecting the overall electoral process.

The first judgment, delivered on May 20, 2026, in a suit filed by the Youth Party against INEC, questioned certain timelines outlined by the Commission. A second ruling, delivered on May 26, 2026, in a suit filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), affirmed INEC’s authority to issue an election timetable but struck down specific timelines relating to the nomination and substitution of candidates.

Amupitan noted that the court, in its judgment on the SDP case, acknowledged that an election timetable without timelines for activities such as party primaries, submission of membership registers, and other preparatory processes would be incomplete and could create confusion within the electoral system.

While reaffirming INEC’s respect for judicial decisions and the rule of law, the chairman argued that the judgments raise important constitutional and legal questions regarding the Commission’s powers to regulate and coordinate electoral activities nationwide.

He explained that many electoral processes are not expressly assigned timelines under the Electoral Act but must still be accommodated within a structured electoral calendar to ensure transparency, fairness, and efficiency.

According to him, removing specific timelines from the election schedule could create uncertainty, disrupt planning, and affect the successful conduct of the 2027 general elections. He expressed confidence that the appellate courts would provide clarity on the issues raised and preserve the integrity of the electoral process.