He said that as of February 6, INEC had been named in 1,241 intra‑party lawsuits filed in various courts. These cases do not concern elections conducted by INEC but rather the primaries held by political parties to nominate candidates for the 2023 general election. Some of the matters are before the Federal High Court, others are before the Court of Appeal, and a number are pending before the Supreme Court. “On pre‑election litigation alone, as of Monday, February 6, INEC has been joined in 1,241 cases, making us one of the most litigated‑against agencies in the country,” Yakubu noted. “These cases have nothing to do with elections conducted by INEC; they involve primary elections conducted by political parties. Yet each time they go to court, the commission is joined, and we must engage either our own in‑house lawyers or external firms to represent us.” Of the 1,241 cases, more than 300 are currently before the Court of Appeal and 155 are before the Supreme Court.
Consequently, Yakubu requested the support of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in handling some of the cases, particularly through pro bono services to the nation. He emphasized that the commission is committed not only to free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections but also to verifiable ones. To that end, INEC has been working to deepen the use of technology in Nigerian elections. “It is not only coalition members or returning officers who need access to results on election day; citizens must also be able to see the outcomes. Our goal is for citizens to know the election results before we make a formal declaration. This ambition drives us to strengthen and expand technological integration in the electoral process,” he explained.
“The allegiance of the commission is to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and our loyalty is solely to the Nigerian people, the voters. We remain unshaken in ensuring we deliver elections that truly reflect the wishes of Nigerians,” Yakubu affirmed. He also called for NBA collaboration with the commission to address the growing volume of election litigation in the country.
Earlier, NBA President Maikyau assured that the association would assist INEC in protecting its independence and fulfilling its mandate. He praised the INEC chairman for boosting Nigerians’ confidence in the electoral system since taking office. “We stand firmly behind INEC and your administration and will not allow anything to undermine this process. Any attempt by any individual or group to intimidate or harass INEC in discharging its constitutional responsibilities can be reported to the NBA, which will take responsibility for safeguarding INEC’s independence and the integrity of the process,” Maikyau said. He stressed that the NBA remains a non‑partisan body and will take all necessary action against any member whose conduct tarnishes its image.
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