The Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics has urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and heads of courts across the country to take urgent steps to prevent conflicting court judgments on electoral matters.
In a statement titled “When the Ground Shakes Beneath the Throne, the Market Runs for the Door,” dated June 9, the think tank group warned that legal uncertainty could damage investor confidence and threaten economic stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It said recent conflicting rulings by two Federal High Courts on aspects of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) timetable for the 2027 elections had exposed weaknesses in Nigeria’s electoral jurisprudence and created uncertainty for businesses and investors.
The group argued that contradictory judgments on the same constitutional issue create confusion over the rules governing elections and raise concerns about policy predictability, a factor it said investors closely monitor before committing capital.
It warned that uncertainty around the electoral process could increase investment risks, raise borrowing costs and discourage business expansion.
According to the organisation, the election timetable is central to the conduct of elections because it guides activities such as party primaries, nomination processes, voter education, ballot printing, deployment of materials and compliance with the Electoral Act.
It noted that judicial decisions affecting parts of the timetable could have wider consequences for the entire electoral process.
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The Alliance said the issue extends beyond the current dispute, arguing that Nigerian courts have in recent years delivered conflicting decisions on political and electoral matters, forcing higher courts to intervene after uncertainty had already taken hold.
It called on the Chief Justice and heads of courts to issue practice directions and consolidated guidelines on electoral jurisprudence to minimise conflicts between courts of coordinate jurisdiction and provide clarity on the interpretation of statutory timelines in the Electoral Act.
The group also appealed for an expedited hearing of appeals arising from the cases involving INEC’s timetable.
“We appeal for the issuance of Practice Directions and Consolidated Guidelines on electoral jurisprudence,” the organisation said, adding that “the time for judicial harmonisation is now. Not after the appeals. Not after the damage. Now.”
The think tank further urged the President of the Court of Appeal to designate a special electoral division to hear and determine INEC’s appeals quickly, while calling on the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to establish specialised panels for electoral cases and create mechanisms to address conflicting judgments before they are enforced.
It maintained that certainty in the legal and electoral system is critical for economic growth, arguing that investors, credit rating agencies and development partners pay close attention to the stability and predictability of institutions when assessing Nigeria’s investment climate.
The Alliance added that the 2027 elections would serve not only as a political milestone but also as an economic signal, stressing that clear and consistent judicial decisions are necessary to strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s democratic and economic institutions.
Alex is a business journalist cum data enthusiast with the Pinnacle Daily. He can be reached via ealex@thepinnacleng.com, @ehime_alex on X