Bugaje to INEC: Prove Your Credibility Before the 2027 Elections

By Omoyeni Ojeifo

Former federal lawmaker Prof. Usman Bugaje has stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lacks the legal authority to alter the 2027 election timetable, emphasizing that the electoral process timeline is already locked in by existing law.

Interestingly, Bugaje—a member of the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE)—had previously joined former Education Minister Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and other stakeholders in signing a petition that urged a review of the same timetable to ensure a fair election.

The petition, addressed to INEC, urged the commission to reconsider aspects of its timetable, arguing that current scheduling could constrain political parties and affect pre-election preparations.

Speaking in a Channels TV interview monitored by Persecondnews on Thursday, Bugaje maintained that despite the petition, the legal framework governing elections remains unchanged.

“The law itself has already provided the timeline, and INEC must operate strictly within that legal framework without deviation,” he said.

He stressed that INEC does not have the discretion to alter statutory election dates already fixed under the Electoral Act.

“INEC is not supposed to shift the date because the law clearly sets it out for all stakeholders and all political actors are expected to comply with it as it stands,” he noted.

Bugaje warned that attempts to reinterpret or adjust statutory provisions could undermine public trust in the electoral system ahead of the 2027 polls.

Citing the 2023 Afrobarometer survey, he said only 23 per cent of Nigerians expressed confidence in INEC, warning that the commission risks further erosion of public trust if it continues on its current path.

He also said the growing frustration among young Nigerians over unemployment and lack of opportunities is part of why he continues to speak on governance issues, insisting he is not driven by politics but by national concern.

“And those of us who speak about these things are seen as opposition. We’re not opposition, we’re just concerned about the future of our own country. We are concerned about the future of our own children.”

Bugaje reiterated that INEC’s credibility depends on strict adherence to legal provisions governing elections in Nigeria.