INEC Told To Follow Constitution In 2027 Candidate Nominations

As Nigeria moves toward the 2027 general elections, the Independent Judicial Accountability Panel (IJAP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to strictly follow the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and its internal rules when handling candidate nominations.

The panel said this is key to protecting public trust in the electoral process and ensuring fair competition among political parties.

The IJAP, chaired by retired Justice Mojeed Adekunle Owoade of the Court of Appeal, made the appeal at the end of its third session in Abuja. The session was organized under the CiTi-Act Project of ActionAid Nigeria. Justice Owoade said both INEC and political parties must uphold transparency, rule of law, and internal democracy as the election season draws near.

The panel urged political parties to put public interest ahead of personal ambition. It said parties must respect their constitutions and nomination guidelines instead of mounting pressure on INEC and the courts to favor particular candidates. The panel also encouraged citizens to take part in the entire electoral process, including party primaries, and to reject aspirants who emerge from flawed or illegal procedures.

During the meeting, the panel reviewed the recent emergency rule declared in Rivers State. It noted that although democracy had been restored, the process showed gaps in the nation’s constitutional framework. IJAP pointed out that the National Assembly approved the emergency declaration through a voice vote instead of the constitutionally required roll-call, raising concerns about the legality of such actions.

The panel expressed worry that a pending case at the Supreme Court on the President’s emergency powers under Section 305 of the Constitution had not yet been heard. It said the delay weakens public confidence in the judiciary and urged the apex court to prioritize cases that affect national stability and governance.

The panel also reviewed several key Supreme Court rulings, including APC v. Bashir Sheriff & INEC, Oyetola v. INEC, and Rhodes-Vivour v. INEC. It said some of these judgments revealed inconsistencies in how electoral laws are applied. The panel criticized judgments that leaned on technicalities rather than justice, warning that such trends could distort the people’s will during elections.

In its review of Oyetola v. INEC, the panel noted that the court provided clarity on the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System. However, it cautioned that backend electronic data alone should not be treated as conclusive evidence in election disputes.

On the Rhodes-Vivour case, IJAP welcomed the ruling that a dual citizen by birth is not disqualified from contesting for public office, describing it as a fair reading of the Constitution.

The panel ended its session by calling for deep reforms across Nigeria’s judicial and electoral systems. It said credible elections depend on the collective responsibility of citizens, political parties, INEC, the judiciary, and lawmakers. IJAP reaffirmed its partnership with ActionAid Nigeria to push for stronger institutions that can protect democracy and ensure justice for all.