A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified key deadlines fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission for political party primaries and candidate nominations ahead of the 2027 general elections, Peak Newspaper reports.
Justice Mohammed Umar, in a judgment delivered on Wednesday, ruled that INEC lacked the statutory powers to prescribe timelines for the conduct of party primaries or shorten periods already provided under the Electoral Act 2026.
The court held that political parties retain the full legal timeframe stipulated by law for the submission of candidates’ personal particulars, withdrawal and substitution of candidates, as well as the conduct of campaigns before elections.
The suit was filed by the Youth Party, which challenged portions of INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 elections. The party argued that the commission unlawfully abridged statutory timelines granted to political parties under the Electoral Act.
In his ruling, Justice Umar set aside aspects of INEC’s timetable that fixed earlier deadlines for party primaries, candidate substitutions and campaign periods, declaring them inconsistent with the Electoral Act 2026. The judge further stated that INEC’s role is limited to receiving notices and monitoring primaries, not dictating when parties must conduct them.
The judgment is expected to significantly affect preparations for the 2027 elections, particularly for political parties currently facing internal disputes and legal battles over congresses and candidate selection processes.
