Speaking to Saturday Vanguard in Warri, Delta State, Mr. Cleric Alaowei, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Centre for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (CHURAC), said, “The country’s demand for free and fair elections necessitates institutional reformation.” A constitutional amendment is necessary to release INEC and the courts from executive arm influence. The executive branch shouldn’t select and install judges.

The INEC needs to be subject to the same regulation. Each of the resident electoral commissioners (RECs) and the chairman must be elected to their respective posts.

Judge selection is the duty of the National Judicial Council (NJC). A sitting judge should not be removed from office by the executive branch in accordance with the Constitution. Such power should be given to the NJC. INEC and the judiciary should be financially independent. The Electoral Act of 2022 has a lot of writing mistakes. Some of these clauses were ruled to be unconstitutional by the Court of Appeal. To solve those problems, the statute must be completely amended. Free, fair, and credible elections in 2027 cannot be discussed unless the enabling laws are amended to address the problems with the current legislation.

Hon. Stephen Adewale, an activist and former Ondo State chairman of SDP, said, “After the 2023 elections, the hopes of millions were crushed, not just by INEC’s embarrassing failure to uphold the integrity of the electoral process, but by the judiciary’s shocking inability or unwillingness to deliver justice in the face of overwhelming irregularities.

Despite repeated claims, INEC could not even guarantee the simple task of real-time result transmission through the IReV platform. The election as a whole was clouded by that failure alone. What happened next, however, was even more disturbing. Courts are rejecting important petitions on legal technicalities that belittle the intelligence of regular Nigerians rather than on the basis of the quality of the evidence.

The presidential election tribunal, once a light of last option, today serves as a cautionary story of how justice can be delayed, denied, and eventually undermined.
We can’t anticipate a credible election in 2027 under this flawed system until we pull down and rebuild. INEC has to be freed from political domination.

The judiciary must return to its sacred duty of justice; judges must be courageous, impartial, and above political manipulation; its leadership selection process must be transparent and merit-based; every official who betrays the trust of the people must be prosecuted, not protected; and the 2027 elections will be a farce if radical reform is not implemented. If the public loses all faith in the ballot and the bench, electoral corruption will cause what is left of our democracy to collapse.

“In terms of judicial reforms, the issue with the last election cycle was the interpretation given to provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act. Nigerians had believed that the reforms in the 2022 Electoral Act were to improve the electoral process, but implementation has become a challenge. I would suggest further amendment to outright address some of the weaknesses in the interpretation of the 2022 Electoral Act by the courts,” stated Eric Omare, a lawyer and former president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), who stated that the judiciary and INEC require urgent reorganizations.

I believe that judicial reforms as well as INEC reforms are desperately needed. The backgrounds of those chosen to INEC as chairman, national commissioners, and resident electoral commissioners must also be carefully examined. Even though the existing law stipulates that they must be apolitical and of unquestioned nature, this requirement is broken. The flawed appointment procedure is to blame for this. As recommended by the Uwais Committee, I propose that the President no longer nominate INEC’s top leadership; instead, a neutral body should do so.

Morris is an activist who is adamant about judicial reform.
“There is a sharp and very worrisome contrast when we look back and recall the statement, ‘The judiciary is the last hope of the common man,’ and when we compare what our society is going through with what some of us read in school about ‘The incorruptible Judge,'” said Comrade Alagoa Morris, ex-scribe of the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Bayelsa State. Justice seems to be highly political and awarded to the highest bidder. Even in court proceedings involving communities, politicians and wealthy individuals disparage the courts.

Reform is necessary in light of the terrible circumstances if we are to rebuild the rapidly declining public trust in the judiciary. Unfortunately, regardless of whether they obtained it by corruption or not, everyone who prevails in a court of law would declare that justice has been done by repeating the phrase, “The judiciary is the last hope for the common man.”

Adima, an activist, says that INEC and the courts require a thorough overhaul.

Speaking to Saturday Vanguard in Delta State, political activist Mr. Blessing Adima stated, “When it comes to judicial reform, it is absolutely essential, but how do we begin the reform? Given that the president selects the chief judge, what kind of judicial reform is necessary? The judiciary needs a complete overhaul, not simply reform. However, the primary focus should now be on INEC, as reforming the electoral authority will significantly reduce costs in 2027.

The country of Nigeria needs to be healed—Fehintola
“The judiciary’s performance in administering justice with fairness and good conscience will go a long way in maintaining democracy and ensuring its sustainability as the 2027 general elections approach in Nigeria,” stated Mr. Deola Fehintola, a lawyer based in Ibadan. A state of anarchy will result otherwise. As the 2027 elections draw near, all eyes will be on the judiciary and its performance, which will be crucial to maintaining Nigeria’s democracy.

It is imperative that all Nigerians are committed to acting morally—Adediran.
According to Mr. Taiwo Adediran, another lawyer, “Our laws are adequate to take care of the situation in Nigeria, but it’s the operators of our laws that are making them ineffective.” For INEC, the same holds true. Nigerian elections in 2027 can be successful if everyone is committed to acting morally.

What is occurring in Nigeria right now should be attributed to both the government and the governed. Both the judiciary and INEC are composed of Nigerians. Therefore, it is necessary to inquire about Nigeria’s value system. Politicians should also take responsibility.

Inconsistencies in court rulings on electoral issues must be addressed, according to Ogunsuyi
Public affairs analyst Mr. Lanre Ogunsuyi stated that “judicial and INEC reforms are essential to successful elections in 2027.” Inconsistencies in court rulings on electoral issues must be addressed immediately. Clear policies and procedures are required for the prompt settlement of election disputes. It is anticipated that taking this action will improve accountability and rebuild public confidence in the voting process.

Without major reforms, we cannot expect 2025 elections to be successful. “Many citizens are losing hope due to the courts’ perceived failure to deliver justice in the face of evident electoral fraud during the last elections,” stated Aare Hassan Oladotun, a lawyer and president of Yoruba Council Worldwide, or YCW. This is a concerning scenario that needs immediate care.

We cannot anticipate successful elections in 2027, in my opinion, unless there are substantial reforms made to the courts and INEC.

Our judiciary’s independence and transparency are essential to its integrity. In order to guarantee that judges are held to high standards, we must promote accountability measures. This may entail setting up monitoring organizations to keep an eye on court rulings and give the public input. Furthermore, in order to ensure that judges are prepared to treat cases of electoral misconduct with the gravity they merit, we must advocate for continual training that keeps them up to date on electoral laws and new legal standards. For the purpose of educating our communities about their rights and the value of voting, we can host forums and seminars.

Credible elections cannot be held without INEC and judicial reforms—Shettima
Alhaji Yerima Shettima, the president general of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), stated in his own words that “the chances of holding free, fair, and credible elections remain bleak without significant reforms in both the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

The judiciary, which is frequently regarded as the protector of democracy, is essential to maintaining the rule of law and making sure that elections are fair and transparent. However, serious flaws in this institution have been made clear by the most recent elections. There have been several reports of electoral malpractices, such as seizing ballot boxes, intimidating voters, and falsifying results.

It is unrealistic to expect Nigeria to hold effective elections in 2027 given this crisis of confidence unless INEC and the judiciary undergo extensive reforms. Restoring public trust in the electoral process requires reforming INEC. This entails increasing election technology, making the electoral process more transparent, and making sure that all groups involved—including political parties and civic society—are actively participating.

In order for INEC to function independently and equitably, it must also be protected from political meddling. The necessity of judicial reform is equally crucial. When deciding electoral cases, timeliness is essential. In order to prevent judges from being influenced by outside forces or corruption, procedures must also be in place to hold them responsible for their rulings.