By Vincent Egunyanga, Abuja
A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified key aspects of the 2027 election timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission, ruling that the electoral body lacks the powers to abridge timelines expressly provided under the Electoral Act 2026.
In a judgement delivered on Thursday, Justice M.G. Umar held that political parties cannot be compelled to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10, 2026, as earlier directed by INEC.
The Court ruled that all registered political parties have until September 2026 to submit updated membership registers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The judgement followed a suit instituted by the Youth Party challenging several provisions contained in INEC’s guidelines for the conduct of the 2027 polls.
Justice Umar ruled that the commission could not lawfully shorten statutory timelines guaranteed by the Electoral Act.
“A Declaration is made that, having regard to Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which requires political parties to submit the personal particulars of their candidates not later than 120 days before an election, the Defendant cannot lawfully abridge or limit that statutory period by prescribing a shorter timeframe in its 2027 elections,” the judge held.
The Court further ruled that INEC’s powers are limited to monitoring party primaries and do not extend to dictating when political parties must conduct their internal elections.
Justice Umar also voided INEC’s timelines for the submission of candidates’ particulars, the withdrawal and replacement of candidates, the publication of final candidates’ lists, and the campaign schedules for the 2027 elections.
According to the Court, INEC “cannot shorten the timeframe within which political parties are required to submit candidates’ particulars,” nor “impose a shorter deadline for the withdrawal or replacement of candidates, including placeholder arrangements.”
The Court equally held that the commission “cannot publish the final list of candidates earlier than 60 days before the election” and “cannot compel political parties to end campaigns two days before the polls.”
The ruling is expected to reshape preparations for the 2027 elections significantly and may open fresh political opportunities for aspirants seeking to defect to other parties after losing party primaries.
INEC had fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
