The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that the 2027 general elections will serve as a critical test for the clarity and effectiveness of Nigeria’s legal framework regarding electoral justice. The Commission emphasized that the nation’s political stability relies not only on the efficient conduct of elections but also on the judiciary’s ability to adjudicate post-election disputes with transparency and courage.
Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, the Chairman of INEC, made the remarks on Monday in Abuja during the opening of a three-day workshop for Justices of the Court of Appeal and members of the 2027 election petition tribunals. The event, held at the Body of Benchers Complex, was preceded by the inauguration of 375 judges who will serve on tribunals tasked with hearing election petitions from aggrieved parties across the country.
Amupitan noted that while INEC is responsible for managing the ballot and safeguarding the voter franchise, the Election Petition Tribunals act as the ultimate guardians of democratic legitimacy. He stressed that the credibility of elections depends on public confidence that disputes will be resolved independently and in accordance with the law. “When political contestations overflow from polling units into the courtroom, the Judiciary provides the constitutional sanctuary where grievances are transformed into peace,” he said.
The INEC Chairman also issued a warning regarding the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the judicial process, stating that digital threats will inevitably spill into courtrooms. He cautioned that tribunals may face novel evidentiary challenges, including fabricated digital clips presented as proof of malpractice or legitimate video evidence dismissed as AI-generated deepfakes, a phenomenon he referred to as the “Liar’s Dividend.” To mitigate these risks, Amupitan urged tribunals to apply rigorous evidentiary standards under Section 84 of the Evidence Act, emphasizing the importance of digital provenance and forensic chain of custody.
Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who declared the workshop open, described the 2027 general elections as a defining moment in the country’s democratic journey. She stressed the necessity for the Judiciary to be prepared to discharge its constitutional responsibilities within the demanding timelines prescribed by law, noting that public confidence in the electoral process depends on the fair, competent, and timely resolution of disputes.
Other dignitaries at the event included Attorney General of the Federation Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem. Fagbemi highlighted that the Electoral Act 2026 introduced far-reaching reforms aimed at strengthening transparency and modernizing administration, while Justice Dongban-Mensem described the inauguration of the judges as a vital institutional preparation for upholding the rule of law and the integrity of the electoral process.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
