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By Stella Odueme
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has urged members of the 2027 Election Petition Tribunals to uphold justice, avoid unnecessary technicalities and ensure that the truth of the ballot prevails in resolving electoral disputes.
Amupitan gave the charge in Abuja while delivering the Commission's opening remarks at a three-day workshop for Justices of the Court of Appeal and members of the Election Petition Tribunals.
The workshop, organised by the Court of Appeal at the Body of Benchers Complex, was themed, "Election Tribunal as a Tool for Political Stability."
According to a statement by Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, Director of Voter Education and Publicity, with Wilfred Ifogah as Editor and Esther Chibuikem as Sub-Editor on Tuesday, the INEC chairman said tribunal members must demonstrate integrity, impartiality and commitment to the rule of law, stressing that their decisions would play a significant role in sustaining public confidence in Nigeria's democratic process.
He noted that the political stability of the country after the 2027 general elections would depend not only on INEC's ability to conduct credible polls but also on the courage and fairness with which election disputes were adjudicated.
Amupitan reminded the tribunal members that the 2027 general elections would begin on January 16, with the presidential and National Assembly elections, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections would hold on February 6.
He described election tribunals as important constitutional institutions for resolving political disagreements and preventing electoral disputes from escalating into civil unrest.
On electoral technology, the INEC chairman said allegations involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) and electronic transmission of results must be determined through credible and admissible evidence.
He also warned that artificial intelligence-generated disinformation, cloned audio recordings and deepfake videos could complicate electoral litigation, urging judges to apply strict standards in evaluating electronic evidence under Section 84 of the Evidence Act.
Amupitan said digital provenance, forensic chain of custody and certified information from INEC would be essential in identifying fabricated evidence.
He disclosed that the Commission had issued the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2026, to establish clearer operational standards for assessing allegations of electoral non-compliance.
The INEC chairman commended the Court of Appeal, the National Judicial Institute and legal experts for producing the second edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual (JEM), 2026, describing it as an important reference for consistency in electoral adjudication.
Meanwhile, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice M. B. Dongban-Mensem, disclosed that 375 judicial officers had been nominated to serve on the 2027 Election Petition Tribunals.
She said the nominees comprised 138 returning members with previous tribunal experience and 237 newly nominated judicial officers.
Dongban-Mensem urged them to protect judicial independence, resist external influence and avoid unnecessary adjournments while ensuring that speedy trials did not compromise fairness.
The workshop also featured the swearing-in of tribunal chairmen and members, as well as the unveiling of the second edition of the Judicial Electoral Manual by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat M. O. Kekere-Ekun.
In a related development, INEC has warned political leaders and Nigerians against the use of the slogan "Rig and Die", describing it as dangerous and capable of endangering the lives of electoral officials, voters, party agents and observers.
The National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, gave the warning on November 7, 2026, at a media engagement in Enugu.
Represented by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu State, Dr. Chukwuemeka J. Chukwu, Haruna said linking electoral offences with death could provoke violence, particularly at polling units where ordinary Nigerians serve as election officials.
He explained that delays in result transmission, technical challenges or rumours of electoral malpractice could easily trigger hostile reactions from an already charged crowd.
Haruna stressed that electoral fraud was a criminal offence punishable under the Electoral Act 2026, adding that allegations should be addressed through lawful channels, including formal complaints to INEC, security agencies and the courts.
He urged political leaders to abandon the slogan and appealed to media organisations not to amplify it through headlines or hashtags.
The commissioner also called on journalists to uphold accuracy, fairness and professionalism in election reporting, warning against publishing unverified results, projections and misleading information.
He said results could only be officially declared by INEC through its designated Returning Officers.
Haruna further urged the media to support voter education, expose vote buying and counter misinformation, including artificial intelligence-generated content and fake social media accounts.
He recalled that only 26.72 per cent of registered voters participated in the 2023 presidential election, calling for increased public enlightenment to improve voter turnout.
The commissioner reaffirmed that any INEC staff member or ad hoc official found compromising the electoral process would face the full weight of the law.
He also disclosed that the Commission was working towards ensuring that election officials and materials arrived at polling units by about 7:30 a.m. on election day to minimise delays and suspicion.