A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the timelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the conduct of party primaries and nomination of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The court also held that the Independent National Electoral Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission, lacks the statutory powers to shorten or impose deadlines that are already provided under the Electoral Act.
The judgement followed a suit filed by the Youth Party, in which it challenged the legality of INEC’s revised election timetable that set strict deadlines for political parties to submit membership registers, conduct primaries, and nominate candidates.
Delivering judgement, Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court held that the commission cannot fix or prescribe the timetable within which political parties must conduct their primary elections for the purpose of nominating candidates.
The court ruled that the powers of INEC under sections 29, 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act do not extend to regulating or abridging timelines already provided by law.
Justice Umar further held that political parties are entitled to the full statutory period allowed for submission of candidates’ particulars, withdrawal and substitution of candidates, as well as publication of final candidate lists.
He added that INEC cannot lawfully impose earlier deadlines than those specified in the Electoral Act for any of the electoral processes leading to the general elections.
The court consequently set aside all sections of the commission’s revised timetable relating to party primaries, nomination of candidates, withdrawals and substitutions, publication of final lists, and campaign deadlines, describing them as inconsistent with the Electoral Act.
