ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restated its commitment to improving Nigeria’s electoral processes ahead of the 2027 general elections, even as it welcomed public scrutiny through election petitions and court challenges.
Speaking on Wednesday at the launch of From Ballot to the Court, a detailed analysis of election petition outcomes from the 2023 general elections, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said the Commission remains open to partnerships with civil society and committed to transparency and electoral accountability.
Yakubu, who was represented at the event by INEC’s Director of Litigation and Prosecution, Tanimu Inuwa, commended the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) for conducting the research and contributing to electoral development in Nigeria.
According to the INEC chair, the large number of election petitions—and the small percentage that succeeded—indicates progress in election administration and increased confidence in legal mechanisms for dispute resolution.
“There may be many factors, as analyzed by the report, but it shows that election administration in Nigeria has greatly improved,” Yakubu said. “The Commission will do its best come 2027 to have a credible, reliable election.”
Election Petitions: A Snapshot
The PLAC report, supported by the European Union, reviewed outcomes from 895 petitions filed after the 2023 elections. Findings revealed that only 11.1% of cases were successful at the Election Petition Tribunal, with 88.9% failing.
At the Court of Appeal level, 79.1% of the 588 appeals were dismissed, while 20.9% succeeded, further highlighting a high failure rate of election petitions.
While Yakubu acknowledged the trend, he also voiced concern over the challenges it poses to Nigeria’s electoral dispute resolution system. “It’s a development that should provoke reflection,” he noted.
Tighter Races, Stronger Competition
The INEC chairman also pointed to a noticeable trend in the 2023 results: increasingly narrow margins of victory.
“You will notice that the difference is very thin. It is not as bogus as it used to be,” he remarked, suggesting a healthier level of electoral competitiveness and engagement among the electorate.
Judiciary in the Spotlight
PLAC’s Executive Director, Clement Nwankwo, who presented the report, warned that the growing volume of post-election litigation is becoming a “worrying trend” and said the judiciary now plays a critical role in determining electoral outcomes.
“The judiciary has become a very critical component of election management in Nigeria,” Nwankwo said.
He emphasized the need for legislative reforms, greater judicial capacity building, and more professional conduct by electoral bodies, to reduce the frequency and complexity of post-election disputes.
Looking Forward
As Nigeria gears up for the next electoral cycle, INEC’s reassurance of its commitment to transparency, along with calls for judicial and legislative improvements, will remain in sharp focus.
PLAC’s report offers not just a snapshot of past legal battles, but a roadmap for future electoral integrity—one where fair elections are decided at the polls, not just in the courtroom.