The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Amupitan, has warned that the commission will proceed under the existing legal framework if amendments to the Electoral Act are not concluded in good time.
He spoke in Abuja on Wednesday during INEC’s quarterly consultative meeting with civil society organisations (CSOs), stressing that early amendment of the Electoral Act is crucial to the commission’s preparations for the 2027 general election, including the release of the election timetable and schedule of activities.
Amupitan disclosed that although INEC has already finalised the timetable for the 2027 polls, its public release is being delayed pending the conclusion of the ongoing amendments to the Electoral Act by the National Assembly.
According to him, Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, authorises the commission to issue a notice of election not later than 360 days before the date of the poll.
“While the National Assembly is currently working on amendments to the Electoral Act, the commission has made its submission as required. We are mindful of the growing public interest and anticipation surrounding the release of the timetable,” he said.
He assured political parties and Nigerians that the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections would be released strictly in line with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022.
Amupitan also appealed to CSOs to support INEC in urging the National Assembly to fast-track the amendment process, noting that some of the proposed changes could affect the already-prepared timetable.
“We have hesitated a little because we have the timetable ready, but there are proposed amendments that may impact it. If the process is delayed any further, we may have to rely on the extant laws,” he added.
On the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections, the INEC chairman said the commission would conduct a mock accreditation exercise on February 7 in 289 selected polling units across the six area councils.
He revealed that 83 domestic and five foreign observer groups had been accredited for the elections, which would involve 1,680,315 registered voters across 2,822 polling units in the FCT.
Amupitan further stated that 570 candidates would contest the elections in 68 constituencies for the positions of chairmen and vice-chairmen, while 62 councillors would be elected across the area councils — 10 wards each in five councils and 12 wards in the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
He also called on CSOs to help mobilise FCT residents to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) during the ongoing distribution exercise, which ends on February 10.