The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has filed appeals at the Court of Appeal following conflicting judgments delivered by the Federal High Court regarding its authority to set timelines and schedules for activities ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed the development during the Commission's Second Quarterly Consultative Meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja. According to him, the appeals were necessary to obtain definitive legal clarification on the extent of the Commission's constitutional and statutory powers in coordinating electoral activities.
The legal dispute stems from two separate court judgments delivered in May 2026. In one case involving the Youth Party, the Federal High Court questioned certain timelines contained in INEC's 2027 election timetable and ruled that the Commission lacked the authority to impose specific deadlines on political parties for some pre-election activities.
In another case brought by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), a different Federal High Court affirmed INEC's power to issue election timetables and regulate party primaries but nullified some deadlines relating to candidate nominations and substitutions, ruling that they conflicted with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
Speaking on the matter, Amupitan stressed that activities contained in the election timetable are interconnected operational processes that cannot be treated as isolated events. He warned that uncertainty over the Commission's powers could disrupt preparations for the 2027 elections and affect administrative efficiency.
INEC maintains that it has constitutional responsibility for coordinating elections and that several electoral activities not specifically covered by statutory timelines must still be accommodated within a comprehensive electoral calendar. The Commission believes a final interpretation from the appellate court will provide certainty for political parties, candidates, and election administrators ahead of the 2027 polls.
The outcome of the appeal is expected to shape how political parties conduct their primaries, submit candidate information, and comply with electoral schedules in the lead-up to the next general election.