By EMMANUEL OLONIRUHA

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the recent conflicting Federal High Court judgments regarding its powers to set timelines for the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), disclosed this at the commission’s second quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties at its headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

Amupitan noted that the legal action had become imperative to ensure certainty, stability and administrative efficiency ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He cited two differing judgments delivered in May in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026 (Youth Party v. INEC) which questioned certain timelines in the 2027 election timetable.

The second litigation, according to him, is the Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/720/2026 (SDP v. INEC) which affirmed INEC’s authority but nullified certain timelines relating to the nomination and substitution of candidates.

“While the commission remains fully respectful of the decisions of the courts, these judgments raise important legal questions concerning the extent of the commission’s constitutional and statutory powers in coordinating and regulating electoral activities.

“In view of the differing conclusions reached in the judgments and in order to ensure certainty and stability in preparations for the 2027 general elections, the commission has filed appeals against the decisions,” he stated.

The INEC chairman noted that electoral activities were interrelated operational processes rather than isolated events.

According to him, while the Electoral Act prescribes timelines for some activities, many critical processes have no express statutory timelines but must be harmonised to avoid chaos.

Amupitan listed the activities to include verifying party registers, monitoring primaries, configuring Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and printing sensitive materials.

He assured the public that in spite of the pending appeals, the commission remained committed to conducting the 2027 general elections in strict compliance with the law.

“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.

“I wish to assure political parties and the Nigerian public that notwithstanding the pending appeals, the commission remains firmly committed to conducting the 2027 general elections in strict compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and all lawful judicial pronouncements,” he said.

The INEC chairman also disclosed that the commission would issue official access codes to all political parties on June 26 to enable them to use its candidate nomination portal.

“These access codes will enable designated national officers of political parties to upload the names, personal particulars and other required information relating to nominated candidates.

“I urge political parties to ensure that their ICT personnel and relevant officers are adequately prepared and that all submissions are completed well before the stipulated deadlines.

“The portal is fully automated and will close automatically at the expiration of the prescribed period,” he said.

On the ongoing nationwide continuous voter registration, Amupitan urged political parties to intensify voter education and mobilisation efforts so that eligible citizens can take advantage of the opportunity and subsequently collect their permanent voter cards (PVCs).

He, however, expressed worry over the numerous leadership tussles involving political parties pending in various courts, describing them as unnecessary distractions that should be resolved immediately.

While reiterating INEC’s continued commitment to providing a level-playing field for all political parties and candidates in accordance with the laws, the INEC chairman urged them to play by the rule.

He said that the success of the 2027 general elections would also depend on parties’ commitment to upholding democratic principles, respect for rule of law, conducting transparent primaries, discouraging violence, hate speech and vote buying, and promoting issue-based campaigns. (NAN)

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