*Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, urges members of the 2027 Election Petition Tribunals, in Nigeria, to let their decisions be characterised by deep fidelity to the law, uncompromising integrity and a clear recognition that justice must be seen to be done
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has charged members of the 2027 Election Petition Tribunals to avoid technicalities that defeat substantive justice, maintain firm control of their courtrooms and allow the truth of the ballot to prevail.
Amupitan gave the charge Monday, November 9, 2026, in Abuja, FCT, while delivering the Commission’s opening remarks at the three-day workshop for Justices of the Court of Appeal and members of the Election Petition Tribunals, held at the Body of Benchers Complex, in Abuja, FCT.
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The workshop, organised by the Court of Appeal, had the theme: “Election Tribunal as a Tool for Political Stability”.
Addressing the Tribunal members, the INEC Chairman urged them to let their decisions be characterised by deep fidelity to the law, uncompromising integrity and a clear recognition that justice must be seen to be done.
Amupitan told participants in the workshop that as they take their oaths, they carry the democratic aspirations of over 200 million Nigerians, describing the courtroom to which they are deployed as the altar upon which public confidence in constitutional governance is preserved.
According to him, the political stability of the nation in 2027 will depend not only on how efficiently INEC conducts elections, but also on how courageously, transparently and justly the Tribunals adjudicate the disputes that follow.
The Chairman noted that the workshop was taking place at a pivotal juncture in Nigeria’s democratic journey, with the 2027 General Election scheduled to commence on 16th January 2027.
The Chairman of the Commission explained that the Presidential and National Assembly elections would hold January 16, 2027, followed by the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections February 6 next year.
Prof. Amupitan said the legitimacy of the country’s constitutional democracy rests on two indispensable pillars, namely impartial electoral administration and fearless judicial adjudication.
He described the Election Petition Tribunal as a constitutional valve that releases political pressure and prevents electoral friction from degenerating into civil disruption.
A Tribunal, he stated, that acts with procedural speed, evidentiary rigour and absolute impartiality assures aggrieved parties that a credible platform exists for the evaluation of their complaints on merit.
The INEC Chairman said electoral adjudication is fundamentally evidence-driven, stressing that allegations of irregularities, non-compliance or manipulation of results must be established through credible and legally admissible evidence.
He observed that electoral litigation had become increasingly complex, with disputes now touching on voter accreditation, electronic transmission of results, technological failures and the integrity of digital records.
On the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), Prof. Amupitan said technology should neither be treated as infallible nor discounted simply because the evidence is electronic.
The Commission has issued the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2026, to provide clearer operational standards against which allegations of non-compliance may be evaluated in electoral proceedings, Amupitan said.
Warning of emerging threats, the Chairman said the electoral environment now faces digital disinformation driven by artificial intelligence, audio cloning and deepfake videos, which he noted would inevitably spill into the courtrooms.
He, therefore, urged the Tribunals to apply rigorous evidentiary standards under Section 84 of the Evidence Act on electronic evidence, noting that digital provenance, forensic chain of custody and reliance on certified data from INEC would be vital in preventing synthetic fabrications from misleading the courts.
Prof. Amupitan also commended the Court of Appeal, the National Judicial Institute and the legal experts who produced the Second Edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual (JEM), 2026, describing it as an indispensable compass for consistency in judicial reasoning.
He said consistency of judicial precedent is a vital prerequisite for political stability, as conflicting decisions on similar facts create legal uncertainty and undermine public confidence.
The Chairman stressed that engagement between INEC and the Judiciary must remain within constitutional limits, adding that it must not be an avenue to influence judicial decisions or discuss the merits of pending proceedings.
Amupitan further assured the Judiciary that the Commission respects constitutional boundaries and remains committed to compliance with valid judicial decisions.
Prof. Amupitan said no institution could secure electoral integrity alone.
He explained that credible elections require an impartial electoral management body, responsible political parties, informed citizens, professional security agencies and an independent, effective judiciary.
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting elections that are credible, transparent, inclusive and consistent with the law.
The Commission disclosed the workshop featured the swearing-in of the Chairmen and Members of the 2027 Election Petition Tribunals, and the unveiling of the Second Edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual (JEM), 2026, by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat M. O. Kekere-Ekun, GCON.
In her address at the event also, Hon. Justice M. B. Dongban-Mensem, CFR, President of the Court of Appeal, disclosed that 375 Judicial Officers had been nominated to serve on the 2027 Tribunals.
The tribunals comprise 138 returning members with previous Tribunal experience, and 237 newly nominated members.
She urged the nominees to remain steadfast in judicial independence, resist every form of improper influence and discourage unnecessary adjournments, stressing that expedition must never undermine fairness.