INEC Opens Up On Why It Is Challenging Court Rulings Over 2027 Election Timetable

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has outlined the reasons behind the Commission’s decision to appeal two recent Federal High Court judgments that questioned elements of its Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

He said the Commission believes that the absence of properly coordinated electoral timelines could create uncertainty and weaken its constitutional responsibility of organizing credible elections.

Prof. Amupitan made the clarification on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, during the Second Quarterly Consultative Meeting with leaders of political parties held at INEC headquarters in Abuja.

According to him, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026 — Youth Party v. INEC, delivered on May 20, 2026, the court raised concerns about certain timelines contained in the Commission’s electoral schedule.

In another ruling, Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/720/2026 — Social Democratic Party (SDP) v. INEC, delivered on May 26, 2026, the court upheld INEC’s authority to issue electoral timetables but struck out some timelines relating to nomination and substitution of candidates.

Prof. Amupitan said these rulings raised key legal questions regarding the scope of INEC’s constitutional and statutory powers in planning and regulating electoral processes.

He added that the Commission had already filed appeals in both cases, seeking clearer interpretation from higher courts, and emphasized that the activities in the timetable are interconnected operational processes required for smooth election management.

The INEC Chairman also listed several critical pre-election activities not explicitly tied to fixed statutory timelines under the Electoral Act but necessary for effective election preparation. These include party membership register verification, monitoring of party primaries nationwide, pre-upload of primary results, printing of ballot materials, quality assurance checks, BVAS configuration, and compliance with provisions requiring political party engagement and inspection of materials.

He stressed that all electoral activities must be harmonized within a clear and workable framework that ensures certainty, transparency, efficiency, and equal treatment of all political parties.

Prof. Amupitan reassured stakeholders that despite the ongoing legal disputes, INEC remains committed to conducting the 2027 General Election in line with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

Update on Ekiti Governorship Election

Speaking on preparations for the Ekiti State Governorship Election scheduled for June 20, 2026, he said the voter register for the poll contains 1,059,360 registered voters. This figure includes 66,664 new registrants from the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, while 2,103 double registrations were removed to protect the integrity of the register.

He added that logistics, technology deployment, and staff training were on track, with plans to open all 2,445 polling units across Ekiti’s 16 local government areas simultaneously at 8:30 a.m. on election day.

He also confirmed that INEC would conduct bye-elections in six constituencies the same day, including senatorial and federal constituencies across Enugu, Nasarawa, Rivers, Ondo, Kano, and Kebbi States, noting that uniform operational and security standards would apply.

Prof. Amupitan further urged political parties to strictly adhere to timelines for the Osun State Governorship Election scheduled for August 15, 2026.

Political Parties React

Responding on behalf of political parties, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, supported INEC’s decision to appeal the judgments, saying conflicting court decisions had created confusion for political actors and stakeholders.

However, he called for a comprehensive review of the Electoral Act 2026, arguing that some provisions—particularly those restricting parties to consensus or direct primaries—had created operational challenges during recent party primaries.

He noted that such provisions had in some cases forced parties into contested consensus arrangements, leading to disputes and legal battles.

Dr. Dantalle also condemned recent incidents of political violence in Osun State, urging political actors to prioritize peaceful, issue-based campaigns ahead of upcoming elections.

He stressed that no political ambition should be allowed to endanger lives, destroy property, or destabilize communities.