Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has warned that conflicting court judgments involving the Independent National Electoral Commission could threaten preparations for the 2027 general elections if not urgently addressed.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Summer-IDRI-Masterclass.jpg")
Falana raised the concern in a statement titled “Nigerian Judges and Lawyers Should Be Prevented From Sabotaging the 2027 Election,” where he cautioned that contradictory rulings from courts of coordinate jurisdiction could create confusion over electoral procedures and undermine public confidence in the judiciary and the democratic process.
The senior lawyer criticised recent decisions by two judges of the Federal High Court on INEC’s power to fix timelines for party primaries and require political parties to submit their membership registers ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to him, the conflicting rulings have placed INEC in a difficult legal position, effectively leaving the commission to decide which judgment to obey.
The controversy followed a judgment by Justice Mohammed Umar, who nullified INEC’s timetable for party primaries, candidate nominations and the May 10 deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers.
Justice Umar, in a suit filed by the Youth Party, held that aspects of the timetable were inconsistent with the Electoral Act, 2026.
INEC has since challenged the ruling at the Court of Appeal and filed a motion seeking a stay of execution pending the determination of the appeal.
However, in a separate suit filed by the Social Democratic Party, Justice J. K. Omotosho affirmed INEC’s constitutional and statutory powers to issue election timetables, including deadlines for party primaries and related electoral activities.
Reacting to the development, Falana said the two judgments had created avoidable uncertainty at a sensitive period in the country’s electoral calendar.
“The judgments of both courts of coordinate jurisdiction have caused unnecessary confusion in the polity,” he said.
He argued that Justice Omotosho should have allowed the Court of Appeal to determine the validity of Justice Umar’s earlier decision instead of delivering a judgment that directly contradicted an existing ruling on the same subject.
Falana called on the National Judicial Council and the Nigerian Bar Association to urgently investigate the circumstances surrounding the conflicting judgments in the cases involving the Youth Party and the SDP against INEC.
He stressed that judges and lawyers must avoid actions capable of weakening the credibility of future elections, warning that litigation should not become a tool for disrupting democratic processes.
Drawing a parallel with Nigeria’s political history, Falana warned that failure to resolve the situation could revive memories of 1993, when conflicting court orders contributed to the legal crisis surrounding the annulment of the June 12 presidential election.
“Unless the judges and lawyers involved are called to order, the 2027 election may be sabotaged by judges and lawyers,” he warned.
His intervention comes as INEC, political parties and aspirants intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections amid growing legal disputes over the timetable, primaries and pre-election processes.
As an added bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE ebook titled: “AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion: A Research Guide.”
Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating:
"....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic."
How to Order:
📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878
📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com
🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626
______________________________________________________________________
“Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
The book, titled The Law of Torts in Nigeria: A Functional Approach, authored by Professor Hagler Sunny Okorie Ph.D and Ikeocha, Nathaniel Ngozi Esq, offers law students, practitioners, and academics a comprehensive guide to understanding and applying tort law in Nigerian courts. Interested buyers can place orders via the following contact numbers: 08028636615, 08037667945, 08032253813, or +234 902 196 2209.
_______________________________________________________________________
“Order Your Copy Now” — Basil Momodu, Esq. Unveils Second Edition Of His Book, "Civil Procedure In Nigeria"
According to the learned author, Basil Momodu Esq. "Law review is a continuum. We will continue to track changes in the law to enrich future editions." Recommended Booksellers: Lagos: 08033855230, Abuja: 08035991379, and others.
