A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified key timelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the conduct of party primaries and submission of party membership registers ahead of the 2027 general elections, effectively extending the window for political activities until September 2026.

The judgment, delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar, held that the electoral body exceeded its statutory powers by imposing deadlines not provided for in the Electoral Act 2026.  

The suit was instituted by the Youth Party, which challenged INEC’s revised timetable for political parties, especially the May 10, 2026 deadline for submission of party membership registers and timelines for primaries and candidate nominations.

Justice Umar ruled that INEC’s responsibilities under Sections 29, 82 and 84(1) of the Electoral Act are limited to receiving notices of party primaries, monitoring the exercise and receiving particulars of candidates, stressing that the Commission lacks powers to prescribe timelines for when parties should conduct their primaries.  

According to the court, “The powers of the defendant to receive notice of party primaries and the personal particulars of candidates, and its duty to attend, observe and monitor such primaries, do not extend to fixing or prescribing the timetable within which political parties may conduct their primary elections.”  

The court further declared that INEC could not lawfully abridge statutory timelines relating to party primaries, submission of candidates’ particulars, withdrawal and replacement of candidates, publication of final candidates’ lists and campaign periods as provided by the Electoral Act.  

The judgment consequently set aside INEC’s May 10 deadline for submission of membership registers and databases by political parties, thereby opening a wider political window expected to run till September 2026 for defections, alignments, substitutions and completion of party primaries.  

Political parties and opposition groups have welcomed the ruling, describing it as a victory for internal party democracy and political participation ahead of the 2027 elections.  

Before the judgment, INEC had adjusted its timetable and directed political parties to submit membership registers at least 21 days before their primaries, while primaries were scheduled between April 23 and May 30, 2026.