A coalition of civil society leaders under the platform of the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently extend the timelines for the 2027 general elections by 90 days, warning that failure to do so could undermine the credibility and inclusiveness of the electoral process.
This was stated by the coalition in a petition to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. The coalition said the political environment for the elections was uneven because of the existing legal tussles and internal leadership squabbles in some opposition political parties.
In a statement, the coalition, with the Good Governance Group (GGG), said the extension was necessary to allow impacted parties to properly reorganize, update membership files and conduct lawful congresses and primaries in conformity with the Electoral Act 2026.
Among the signatories to the petition were former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, political analyst Usman Bugaje, Dr. Isuwa Dogo and activist Olawale Okunniyi.
The coalition said the parties purportedly affected by the legal and leadership tussles were Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, Social Democratic Party and African Democratic Congress.
The group said recent court declarations like the Supreme Court verdicts on party leadership tussles have impacted internal party structures and may impact adherence to INEC requirements if the timetables are not reviewed.
“Nigeria’s electoral process is governed not only by timelines but by the overarching constitutional obligation to ensure fairness, inclusivity and equal opportunity for all political actors,” the alliance said in the letter dated May 4, 2026.
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The group made their case based on constitutional rules and election laws, specifically section 77(2) of the Constitution which compels political parties to keep legitimate membership registers.
It claimed that the current circumstances in some parties makes it hard to comply and warned that stringent enforcement of existing timetables could disenfranchise party members and harm internal democracy .
The coalition also accused INEC of adopting what it termed a harsh regulatory stance, which has fuelled anxiety among opposition parties.
The alliance claimed the planned 90-day extension would restore fairness among parties, eliminate legal issues and boost public confidence in the voting process, calling for flexibility.
“A 90-day extension is not a concession, it is a necessary recalibration to restore balance and uphold the principles upon which our democracy is founded,” the petition said.
The group also warned that public faith on the impartiality of INEC is being tested more and more, adding that the decision not to change the timelines could lead to new litigations and further erode trust in the electoral system.
At the time of reporting this story, INEC had not officially responded to the request.
Political observers say the petition is putting mounting pressure on the electoral commission as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
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