Fair Play Urged for All Sides in 2027

Nigeria is currently navigating a complex period as it approaches the 2027 general elections, with concerns surrounding administrative interference and judicial overreach on the rise. The ongoing leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress, ADC, serves as a critical test of the nation's multi-party democracy, highlighting the potential for opposition parties to be systematically weakened through selective regulatory recognition.

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This poses a direct threat to the constitutional right of Nigerians to have diverse political choices, emphasizing the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, under the leadership of Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, to take prompt action.

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With the revised 2027 electoral calendar setting a deadline of May 10 for political parties to submit their membership registers, and the portal for uploading candidates' credentials for the Presidential and National Assembly elections set to close on July 11, 2026, time is of the essence.

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Party primaries are scheduled to conclude by May 30, 2026, and any delay in resolving leadership questions could effectively disenfranchise entire political movements, as a party unable to verify its executives cannot legally nominate its candidates.

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The Supreme Court is being called upon to recognize the "extreme urgency" of the ADC case, with its verdict carrying significant weight beyond the internal affairs of one party.

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In a climate where opposition forces are alleging attempts to destabilize them, it is crucial that the judiciary and INEC are seen to be impartial in their pronouncements and actions, with the world watching Nigeria's progress as a leading African democracy.

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Nigeria's global image as a leading African democracy depends on a judiciary that rises above petty or selfish interests, with the judiciary required to put Nigeria first and ensure its decisions set new reference points of integrity rather than precedents for political strangulation.

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The burden of proof also lies with INEC, with Prof. Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, understanding that justice must not only be done but must be seen to have been done.

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INEC must provide a level playing field where all parties can present their programs without undue official hindrance, and it is essential that the commission conducts its affairs with transparency to silence accusations of its officials acting as proxies for the ruling APC.

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If the "referee" is suspected of favoring one of the players, the integrity of the electoral process is compromised from the outset.

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INEC and the Judiciary must take immediate action to ensure that by the 2026 deadlines, every legitimate political voice has a place on the ballot, guaranteeing a stable, democratic future for all Nigerians.