The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why it appealed court rulings on the 2027 election timetable.
Its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, warned that without coordinated timelines, uncertainty would undermine the Commission’s constitutional mandate.
He spoke on Tuesday, 9th June, 2026, at the Second Quarterly Consultative Meeting with Leaders of Political Parties in Abuja.
Prof. Amupitan specifically referenced two Federal High Court judgments. The first was in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026 — Youth Party v. INEC, delivered on 20 May 2026, where the court questioned specific timelines. The second came in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/720/2026 — Social Democratic Party (SDP) v. INEC, delivered on 26 May 2026, where a separate court nullified certain timelines relating to the nomination and substitution of candidates.
“These judgments raise important legal questions concerning the extent of the Commission’s constitutional and statutory powers in coordinating and regulating electoral activities,” he told the party leaders.
He explained that the electoral timetable contains interrelated operational processes, not isolated events. The Commission has filed appeals against both decisions to obtain authoritative pronouncements from the Appellate Courts.
“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,” Prof. Amupitan said.
He listed critical activities with no express statutory timelines under the Electoral Act 2026. These include verification of party membership registers, monitoring of party primaries, pre-upload of primary results, printing of ballot papers, configuration of BVAS machines, and compliance with Section 42 of the Electoral Act.
Preparations for Ekiti, Bye-elections
Turning to the Ekiti State Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, 20 June 2026, the INEC Chairman disclosed that the Register of Voters contains 1,059,360 registered voters. This reflects the addition of 66,664 new registrants from the Continuous Voter Registration exercise. He added that 2,103 double registrations had been invalidated.
Prof. Amupitan reaffirmed the simultaneous opening of all 2,445 Polling Units across Ekiti’s 16 Local Government Areas at 8:30 a.m. on Election Day.
He noted that on the same day, the Commission would conduct bye-elections in six constituencies: Enugu North Senatorial District, Nasarawa North Senatorial District, Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Ondo South Senatorial District, Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in Kano State, and Zuru State Constituency in Kebbi State. “The same operational standards, technological safeguards and security arrangements deployed for the Ekiti election will apply to all six bye-elections,” he assured.
2027 Nomination Portal and Osun Election
Prof. Amupitan announced that on Friday, 26 June 2026, the Commission would issue official access codes to all political parties for the Candidate Nomination Portal. He warned that the portal was fully automated and would close without extension at the expiration of the prescribed period.
He also drew attention to the Osun State Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, 15 August 2026, urging all political parties to comply strictly with the prescribed timelines.
IPAC Backs INEC, Calls for Law Reform
Responding on behalf of the political parties, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, backed the Commission’s decision to appeal the judgments, describing the conflicting pronouncements as a source of confusion.
However, Dr. Dantalle called on the National Assembly to review the Electoral Act 2026. He specifically identified Section 84(2) of the Act, which restricts parties to either consensus or direct primaries while eliminating indirect primaries, as a source of strain.
“Electoral laws should promote democratic participation, strengthen political institutions, and advance the national interest rather than create avoidable obstacles to effective political competition,” Dr. Dantalle said.
He revealed that the restriction had compelled parties to adopt consensus despite multiple aspirants, with some candidates pressured to withdraw after preferred choices had been identified.
The IPAC chairman also condemned recent political violence in Osun State, calling for issue-based campaigns and restraint.
“No political ambition is worth the loss of human life, the destruction of property, or the destabilisation of communities,” he said.
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