The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has filed appeals against two Federal High Court rulings that questioned key aspects of its 2027 general election timetable, insisting that any alteration to the schedule could destabilise the entire electoral process.
The commission disclosed this on Tuesday, June 9, in Abuja through its Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan (SAN), during the Second Quarterly Consultative Meeting with leaders of registered political parties.
Amupitan said INEC reviewed the judgments and opted to seek clearer interpretation from appellate courts on its constitutional and statutory role in organising elections.
The dispute stems from two separate rulings delivered in 2026 by the Federal High Court in Abuja, the first, on May 20, arose from a suit filed by the Youth Party challenging elements of INEC’s electoral timetable.
The second, delivered on May 26 in a case instituted by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), affirmed INEC’s authority to issue a timetable but nullified parts relating to nomination and substitution timelines.
The court held that the commission acted beyond its powers by shortening timelines already prescribed under the Electoral Act, 2026.
INEC had fixed tighter deadlines for political parties to conclude primaries ahead of the February and March 2027 presidential, National Assembly, governorship and state assembly elections.
It also set earlier cut-off dates for submission of candidates’ details, substitution of nominees, publication of final lists, and campaign closure.
However, the court ruled that such adjustments were inconsistent with the Electoral Act, stressing that political parties are entitled to withdraw and substitute candidates up to 90 days before an election, and that INEC lacks the authority to impose earlier deadlines.
READ ALSO: INEC Appeals Court Judgement Nullifying 2027 Election Timetable
Despite the ruling, INEC maintains that its timetable is a single, interconnected framework that cannot be broken into separate parts without affecting the entire electoral process.
Quoting the court’s observation in the SDP judgment, Amupitan said, “an election timetable, without a date for submission of parties’ membership register, timeframe for primaries, etc., is inchoate. Without this timetable, there would be chaos in our electoral system.”
He said while the commission respects judicial authority, the rulings raise fundamental questions about the extent of its constitutional powers in coordinating elections.
“While the commission remains fully respectful of the decisions of the courts and of the judicial process generally, these judgments raise important legal questions concerning the extent of the commission’s constitutional and statutory powers in coordinating and regulating electoral activities,” the INEC chairman said.
According to him, the timetable is more than a list of dates, but a coordinated structure that guides critical administrative and logistical preparations.
He listed processes such as party membership verification, primaries monitoring, result uploads, nomination procedures, ballot printing, logistics deployment, staff training, voter education, procurement of sensitive materials, BVAS configuration, and compliance with inspection provisions under Section 42 of the Electoral Act, 2026.
Amupitan warned that isolating elements of the timetable could undermine efficiency, transparency and order in the electoral process.
“The commission therefore considers it imperative that all electoral activities be harmonised within a coherent and workable framework that promotes certainty, transparency, administrative efficiency and equal treatment of all political parties,” he said.
He assured political parties and Nigerians that the legal dispute would not distract INEC from preparations for the 2027 elections, adding that the commission remains committed to credible polls in line with the Constitution and Electoral Act.