THE Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alongside national commissioners, is meeting with chairmen and secretaries of political parties as preparations intensify for the forthcoming Ekiti State governorship election.
News Point Nigeria reports that the Tuesday’s engagement forms part of a series of consultative meetings scheduled by the electoral body to review its level of preparedness and address outstanding issues ahead of the poll.
The meeting is taking place exactly 11 days before the governorship election slated for June 20, 2026.
According to the commission, the consultation is intended to provide both political parties and the electoral umpire an opportunity to put the finishing touches on arrangements for the election and ensure a smooth electoral process.
In his opening remarks, the INEC chairman, Joash Amupitan, defended the commission’s decision to challenge a recent court judgment concerning INEC’s powers to issue election timetables and regulate pre-election activities.
Amupitan explained that the judgment addressed the commission’s authority to set timelines for elections as well as deadlines for political parties to conduct primaries and submit lists of candidates.
According to him, while the court upheld INEC’s power to issue election timetables, it simultaneously struck down the commission’s authority to determine timelines for party primaries.
The INEC chairman argued that the decision was contradictory and therefore required further judicial clarification.
He maintained that the commission is seeking a clearer and more definitive interpretation from a higher court regarding the scope of its constitutional powers.
As part of the appeal process, INEC filed a motion on notice requesting an order staying the execution and/or further execution of the judgment delivered by the High Court on May 20, 2026.
The commission asked the court to suspend the implementation of the ruling pending the hearing and determination of its appeal before the Court of Appeal.
The consultative meeting comes as stakeholders intensify preparations for the Ekiti governorship election, with INEC and political parties expected to address operational, legal and logistical issues ahead of the June 20 poll.
