The Digest:
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced it has finalised the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections. INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this at a meeting with Civil Society Organisations in Abuja. He acknowledged that the National Assembly's delay in passing the amended Electoral Act could impact some scheduled activities, but stated the commission currently has no choice but to proceed under the subsisting legal framework. Amupitan confirmed that INEC has already made its submissions to the legislature regarding the necessary amendments.
Key Points:
- The early finalisation of the timetable demonstrates INEC's proactive planning to ensure logistical preparedness for the massive electoral exercise.
- Proceeding under the current Electoral Act, despite known flaws, highlights the operational constraints imposed by legislative inertia.
- The potential clash between INEC's schedule and a future amended law creates uncertainty and risks requiring last-minute, disruptive adjustments.
- For political parties and candidates, the early timetable provides a clear roadmap for campaign planning, but its stability depends on timely legislative action.
- The situation underscores a recurring governance challenge where electoral administration must advance despite delays in the legal foundation meant to guide it.
While INEC is taking necessary steps to prepare, the effectiveness and integrity of the 2027 electoral process hinge on the timely passage of a robust and improved Electoral Act by the National Assembly.
Sources: Punch, The Cable
