2027: No INEC in Nigeria, Judiciary Decides Who Rules – Fayose

Isaac Fayose, younger brother of former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, has claimed that Nigeria’s democratic system has broken down, arguing that the judiciary now plays the central role in deciding who leads the country instead of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Fayose made the remarks on Wednesday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he expressed concern over the country’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general election. He argued that election outcomes have increasingly been settled in court, leaving the judiciary with what he described as the final authority over political leadership.

According to him, the growing number of election disputes decided by the courts over the past several years has changed the country’s democratic process. He maintained that presidential elections have repeatedly ended in legal battles, making the judiciary the institution that ultimately determines who occupies the nation’s highest office.

Fayose also linked his claims to recent efforts aimed at improving the welfare of judicial officers, including the construction of residential quarters for judges. He suggested that such developments have fuelled public debate about the judiciary’s influence in the country’s political system.

Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Fayose predicted that the presidential contest would again end in court rather than being concluded through the electoral process alone. He argued that the legal system has become the final stage for deciding leadership in Nigeria.

He further alleged that opposition political parties are facing increasing pressure, mentioning the African Democratic Congress and the Nigeria Democratic Congress as examples. Fayose claimed that recent developments have weakened their ability to compete effectively ahead of the next general election.

His comments add to the ongoing public debate over Nigeria’s electoral process, the role of the courts in resolving election disputes and the state of the country’s democracy as preparations for the 2027 polls continue.