By Florence Joshua
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed two Federal High Court judgments affecting its timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 General Election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during the Commission’s second quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to him, the appeals are aimed at obtaining clear judicial interpretation on the extent of INEC’s constitutional powers to regulate electoral activities and set timelines for election preparations.
Amupitan explained that one of the judgments, delivered in a suit filed by the Youth Party against INEC, questioned some timelines contained in the Commission’s 2027 election timetable.
In another case filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the court upheld INEC’s authority to issue an election timetable but nullified certain timelines relating to the nomination and substitution of candidates.
The INEC chairman said the differing decisions have created legal uncertainties that require clarification from higher courts.
“These judgments raise important legal questions concerning the extent of the Commission’s constitutional and statutory powers in coordinating and regulating electoral activities,” he said.
He noted that the Commission has already taken the necessary legal steps to obtain definitive rulings from the appellate courts in order to ensure stability and certainty ahead of the 2027 elections.
Amupitan stressed that electoral activities are interconnected and cannot be handled in isolation, arguing that administrative timelines are essential for effective planning and coordination.
He listed key activities that require timelines, including the submission and verification of party membership registers, monitoring of party primaries, nomination of candidates, voter education, procurement of election materials, deployment logistics and configuration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
According to him, the absence of clear timelines could disrupt election planning and undermine INEC’s constitutional responsibility to conduct credible elections.
The INEC chairman, however, assured political parties and Nigerians that preparations for the 2027 General Election would continue while the appeals are being determined by the courts.
He also expressed concern over the growing number of court cases involving the leadership of political parties, describing them as unnecessary distractions that could affect preparations for future elections.
Amupitan urged political parties to resolve their internal disputes promptly in the interest of the country’s electoral process.
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