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By Gabriel Ameh
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has urged members of the 2027 Election Petition Tribunals to prioritise substantial justice over technicalities, warning that their decisions will play a critical role in sustaining public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
Amupitan gave the charge on Monday, November 9, 2026, during a three-day workshop for Justices of the Court of Appeal and members of the 2027 Election Petition Tribunals at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja.
The workshop, organised by the Court of Appeal, was themed “Election Tribunal as a Tool for Political Stability.”
Addressing the judicial officers, the INEC chairman urged them to uphold the law, demonstrate integrity, maintain firm control of their courtrooms and ensure that justice is not only delivered but also seen to be done.
He said the judges carried the democratic expectations of more than 200 million Nigerians, stressing that their handling of electoral disputes would significantly influence confidence in constitutional governance.
According to him, Nigeria’s political stability after the 2027 general elections will depend not only on INEC’s ability to conduct credible elections but also on the courage, transparency and fairness of the tribunals responsible for resolving disputes.
Amupitan described election petition tribunals as important constitutional institutions for resolving political disagreements and preventing electoral disputes from escalating into wider instability.
He said timely hearings, proper evaluation of evidence and impartial decisions would reassure aggrieved parties that electoral grievances could be addressed through lawful processes.
INEC chairman raises concerns over digital evidence and deepfakes
The INEC chairman also warned that election-related litigation was becoming increasingly complex due to the growing use of technology in the electoral process.
He identified issues surrounding voter accreditation, electronic transmission of results, technological failures and the integrity of digital records as areas likely to feature prominently in future election disputes.
On the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), Amupitan said electronic evidence should neither be treated as automatically reliable nor dismissed simply because it exists in digital form.
He explained that allegations of electoral irregularities, manipulation and non-compliance must be supported by credible and legally admissible evidence.
The INEC chairman further warned that artificial intelligence-generated disinformation, cloned audio recordings and deepfake videos could become major challenges during the 2027 elections and subsequent court proceedings.
He urged tribunal judges to apply the provisions of Section 84 of the Evidence Act on electronic evidence, particularly in examining digital provenance, forensic chain of custody and certified information obtained from INEC.
Amupitan said these safeguards would help prevent fabricated digital materials from misleading courts and influencing electoral judgments.
He also disclosed that INEC had issued its Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2026, to provide clearer operational standards for assessing allegations of non-compliance.
INEC promises respect for judicial independence
Amupitan commended the Court of Appeal, the National Judicial Institute and legal experts involved in producing the Second Edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual (JEM), 2026.
He described the manual as an important guide for promoting consistency in judicial decisions and strengthening confidence in electoral dispute resolution.
He, however, stressed that engagement between INEC and the Judiciary must respect constitutional boundaries and must never become an avenue for influencing judicial decisions or discussing pending cases.
He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to respecting judicial independence and complying with valid court orders.
The INEC chairman also noted that credible elections required cooperation among electoral institutions, political parties, citizens, security agencies and an independent Judiciary.
375 judicial officers nominated for 2027 election tribunals
The event featured the swearing-in of chairmen and members of the 2027 Election Petition Tribunals and the unveiling of the second edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat M. O. Kekere-Ekun.
In her address, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice M. B. Dongban-Mensem, disclosed that 375 judicial officers had been nominated to serve on the tribunals.
She said the nominees comprised 138 returning members with previous tribunal experience and 237 newly nominated judicial officers.
Dongban-Mensem urged the nominees to protect judicial independence, resist improper influence and avoid unnecessary adjournments.
She emphasised that although election disputes must be resolved promptly, speed must not come at the expense of fairness.
Nigeria’s 2027 general elections are scheduled to begin with the presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, followed by governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on February 6, 2027.
The tribunal proceedings are expected to play a major role in determining how electoral grievances are addressed and how public confidence in the country’s democratic institutions is sustained.
Source: INEC Daily Bulletin, Volume 2, No. 512, November 10, 2026.
