2027: Court voids INEC’s timelines on party primaries, nomination of candidates

By Clifford Ndujihe, Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — Ahead of the 2027 general election, political parties have received relief after a Federal High Court in Abuja invalidated the timelines that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, issued for the conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates.

Trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar in his judgment, set aside INEC’s May 10, deadline requiring political parties to submit a register and database of all their members as a condition for qualifying to participate in the general elections.

Meanwhile, the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, and other political parties, yesterday, asked INEC to obey the court judgment and adjust its revised timetable for the 2027 general elections accordingly.

Also, former presidential candidate, Gbenga Hashim, said the court judgment nullifying parts of INEC’s 2027 election timetable has vindicated his long-held position that the electoral body exceeded its powers under the Electoral Act, 2026.

Justice Umar in the judgment held that the time-frame the Commission imposed on political parties to conduct their primaries and to submit, withdraw, or replace names and particulars of their candidates for the general elections “is inconsistent with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.”

The judgment followed a suit by the Youth Party, YP, to compel INEC to comply with the Electoral Act 2026’s 120-day pre-election deadline for submitting party registers and candidates’ personal particulars.

Even though the judgment was delivered on Wednesday, the Certified True Copy, CTC, was made available just yesterday.

INEC was only defendant in YP’s suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2016.

The plaintiff had prayed the court to declare that upon a proper consideration and interpretation of the provisions of Sections 29, 82 and 84(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, the powers of the INEC to receive notice of party primaries and the personal particulars of candidates, and its duty to attend, observe and monitor such primaries, does not extend to fixing or prescribing the time-table within which political parties may conduct their primary elections for the purpose of nominating candidates for the 2027 general elections.

‘INEC can’t lawfully abridge, limit statutory period’

While agreeing with the YP, Justice Umar declared that in view of the provisions of 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 to an election, “INEC cannot lawfully abridge or limit that statutory period by prescribing a shorter time-frame in its 2027 election timetable.”

Likewise, the court held that in line with Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2026, which permits political parties to withdraw and substitute candidates not later than 90 days to the conduct of an election, the INEC lacks powers to abridge or limit that statutory period by fixing earlier deadline for withdrawal and replacement of candidates in its 2027 election time-table.

Justice Umar further held that by provisions of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2026, INEC does not possess the statutory power to publish the final list of candidates for the 2027 general election before the 60 days minimum period prescribed by law.

Other reliefs granted by the court included: “A Declaration is made that upon the proper construction of Section 98 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the defendant does not possess the statutory authority to fix in its time-table for the 2027 general elections for campaign to end two days before the elections.

As well as, “A declaration is made that upon the proper interpretation to Section 33 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the time-frame prescribed by the Defendant for submission of membership registers for the conduct of primary elections is NOT applicable to primary elections conducted for the purpose of replacing withdrawn candidates.”

The court made an order “setting aside or nullifying the time-frames imposed by the defendant in its Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for 2027 General Election for the conduct of primary elections by political parties for the 2027 general elections, the submission of personal particulars of candidates by their political parties for the 2027 general elections, the withdrawal and replacement of candidates by political parties for the 2027 general elections, the publication of the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections and campaigning for the 2027 general elections which is inconsistent with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.”

Obey court verdict, review poll timetable, parties tell INEC

The parties, in a unanimous position, hailed the landmark judgment delivered by Justice Umar, saying the ruling has widened the democratic space and restored greater flexibility to political parties in the management of their internal affairs.

Acting National Chairman of CUPP, Chief Peter Ameh, in a statement, commended the court for what he described as a progressive and constitutionally compliant decision.

He said: “We commend the Federal High Court for this progressive and constitution-aligned judgment. INEC must immediately obey this ruling and adjust its timetable accordingly.

“Any decision to appeal the judgment will create unnecessary uncertainty, erode public confidence and undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.”

Ameh disclosed that no fewer than 14 political parties had resolved to extend their internal election time-tables to accommodate new defectors and ensure a more inclusive nomination process in line with the court ruling.

The parties maintained that the judgment would strengthen internal democracy, promote party autonomy and protect the rights of aspirants and candidates.

They also urged INEC to work closely with political parties in implementing a revised and realistic timetable that reflects the directives of the Federal High Court ahead of the 2027 polls.

Court vindicates me on INEC time-table — Gbenga Hashim

Hashim, yesterday, said the court ruling could reshape preparations for the 2027 general elections after it held that INEC lacked the legal authority to impose restrictive timelines on political parties for primaries and other pre-election activities, while also voiding portions of the commission’s Revised Time-table and Schedule of Activities found to be inconsistent with the law.

In a statement, Hashim commended Justice Umar for what he described as a courageous judgment affirming the supremacy of the Electoral Act over administrative directives.

“This judgment has now vindicated that position,” Hashim said, referring to his earlier warnings that INEC must operate strictly within the confines of the law.

“I have consistently argued that INEC must act within the confines of the Electoral Act. Unfortunately, those warnings were not heeded,” Hashim stated.

The former presidential candidate also disclosed that he had earlier written an open letter to President Ahmed Tinubu warning against actions he believed could undermine the Electoral Act.

“I commend Justice Umar for his courage and fidelity to justice. This is a sound judgment that reinforces the supremacy of the law,” Hashim added.

Hashim described the ruling as timely and necessary for protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process and strengthening democratic governance, while urging INEC to ensure that future electoral guidelines strictly conform with the provisions of the law.

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

Ahead of the 2027 general election, political parties have received relief after the Federal High Court in Abuja invalidated the timeline that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued for the conduct of primaries and the nomination of candidates.

The court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar, also set aside the INEC’s May 10 deadline requiring political parties to submit a register and database of all their members as a condition for qualifying to participate in the general elections.

It held that the time frame the Commission imposed for political parties to conduct their primaries and to submit, withdraw, or replace the names and particulars of their candidates for the general elections “is inconsistent with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.”

The judgment followed a legal action brought by the Youth Party (YP) to compel INEC to comply with the Electoral Act 2026’s 120‑day pre‑election deadline for submitting party registers and candidates’ personal particulars.

Even though the judgment was delivered on Wednesday, the Certified True Copy (CTC) was made available on Thursday.

INEC was listed as the sole defendant in YP’s suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2016.

The plaintiff had prayed the court to declare that upon a proper consideration and interpretation of the provisions of Sections 29, 82 and 84(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, the powers of the INEC to receive notice of party primaries and the personal particulars of candidates, and its duty to attend, observe and monitor such primaries, does not extend to fixing or prescribing the timetable within which political parties may conduct their primary elections for the purpose of nominating candidates for the 2027 general elections.

While agreeing with the YP, Justice Umar declared that in view of the provisions of 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 to an election, “INEC cannot lawfully abridge or limit that statutory period by prescribing a shorter timeframe in its 2027 election timetable.”

Likewise, the court held that in line with Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2026, which permits political parties to withdraw and substitute candidates not later than 90 days before the conduct of an election, the INEC lacks the powers to abridge or limit that statutory period by fixing an earlier deadline for the withdrawal and replacement of candidates in its 2027 election timetable.

Justice Umar further held that by provisions of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2026, INEC does not possess the statutory power to publish the final list of candidates for the 2027 general election before the 60-day minimum period prescribed by law.

Other reliefs that were granted by the court included: “A Declaration is made that upon the proper construction of Section 98 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the defendant does not possess the statutory authority to fix in its timetable for the 2027 general elections for campaigns to end 2 days before the elections.”

As well as, “A declaration is made that upon the proper interpretation to Section 33 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the time frame prescribed by the Defendant for submission of membership registers for the conduct of primary elections is NOT applicable to primary elections conducted for the purpose of replacing withdrawn candidates.”

The court made an order “setting aside or nullifying the time-frames imposed by the defendant in its Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for 2027 General Election for the conduct of primary elections by political parties for the 2027 general elections, the submission of personal particulars of candidates by their political parties for the 2027 general elections, the withdrawal and replacement of candidates by political parties for the 2027 general elections, the publication of the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections and campaigning for the 2027 general elections which is inconsistent with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.”

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