The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has warned that recent court rulings affecting aspects of its timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election could disrupt preparations for the polls if not urgently clarified by appellate courts.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, raised the concerns on Tuesday during the Commission’s second quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja.
Amupitan disclosed that the Commission had already filed appeals against two judgments of the Federal High Court which questioned certain timelines contained in INEC’s timetable for the 2027 elections.
According to him, while the Commission respects the decisions of the courts, the judgments raise significant legal questions regarding the extent of INEC’s constitutional and statutory powers to coordinate and regulate electoral activities.
The Federal High Court in Abuja had delivered two major rulings invalidating key compressed timelines in the 2027 general election timetable released by INEC.
The courts ruled that while INEC has the constitutional authority to issue and adjust election schedules, it cannot use administrative guidelines to shorten or override statutory windows guaranteed to political parties by the Electoral Act 2026
But Amupitan explained that in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, Youth Party v. INEC, delivered on May 20, 2026, the court questioned some timelines contained in the Commission’s timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 General Election.
He added that in a subsequent judgment delivered on May 26, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/720/2026, Social Democratic Party (SDP) v. INEC, the court affirmed the Commission’s authority to issue an electoral timetable but nullified certain timelines relating to the nomination and substitution of candidates.
“In view of the differing conclusions reached in the judgments and in order to ensure certainty and stability in preparations for the 2027 General Election, the Commission has filed appeals against the decisions and has taken the necessary legal steps to obtain authoritative pronouncements from the appellate courts,” Amupitan said.
The INEC chairman maintained that the activities contained in the Commission’s timetable are interrelated operational processes designed to guarantee the orderly, transparent and successful conduct of elections.
