2027 Polls: INEC cautions against legal disruptions to election planning

By Taiwo Scholarstica

The Independent National Electoral Commission has appealed two recent Federal High Court rulings that questioned parts of its timetable for the 2027 general elections, saying removing sections of the schedule could affect the entire election planning process.

The commission made this known on Tuesday in Abuja through its chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), during a meeting with leaders of registered political parties.

Amupitan said INEC reviewed both judgments and decided to approach higher courts to get clearer interpretation of its legal powers in planning elections.

The first case, decided on May 20, 2026, was filed by the Youth Party, which challenged some parts of the election timetable.

The second, delivered on May 26, 2026, came from a suit by the Social Democratic Party. The court supported INEC’s right to set election dates but removed some rules on candidate nomination and replacement.

INEC said the court decisions could create problems because the election timetable is made up of connected activities that depend on each other.

According to Amupitan, the timetable is not just a list of dates but a full plan that guides many steps needed to conduct elections properly.

He explained that even though the Electoral Act covers some parts of the process, many important activities are not clearly stated in the law but still have to be included for elections to work smoothly.

These include voter register checks, party primaries, submission of candidates, printing of ballot papers, staff training, voter education, distribution of election materials, and preparation of electronic systems.

He said all these tasks are linked, and changing one part could affect the rest and create confusion.

Amupitan added that INEC respects the courts but believes the appeal is necessary to clarify its role.

He assured Nigerians that preparations for the 2027 elections will continue, and the commission remains committed to conducting free, fair, and credible polls.