The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the 2027 election timetable earlier released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Mohammed Umar delivered the ruling in a case filed by the Youth Party, holding that INEC acted beyond its legal authority by setting strict deadlines for political parties’ primary elections and related pre-election processes, in violation of the Electoral Act, 2026.
The court ruled that INEC does not have the power to determine or enforce time limits for party primaries or candidate nomination procedures, stressing that such authority is not granted under the law.
The Youth Party, which filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, had challenged the electoral body’s timetable, arguing that it restricted political parties contrary to statutory provisions. The court upheld all six reliefs sought by the plaintiff.
In its judgment, the court declared that INEC cannot shorten or modify legally established timelines relating to submission of candidates’ details, withdrawal and substitution of candidates, publication of final candidate lists, or campaign deadlines.
Justice Umar further set aside sections of INEC’s revised 2027 election timetable that imposed deadlines inconsistent with the Electoral Act, including provisions on party primaries and campaign schedules.
The court also clarified that campaign activities cannot be concluded earlier than the timeframe allowed by law, and that submission of party membership registers must follow proper legal interpretation, including in cases involving candidate substitution.
According to the ruling, INEC’s timetable violated provisions of Sections 29, 31, 32, 33, 82, 84, and 98 of the Electoral Act, 2026, and therefore could not stand.
The decision effectively invalidates key parts of the commission’s 2027 election schedule, which had required political parties to complete primaries, candidate substitutions, and other processes within May deadlines.
While political parties had already begun compliance with the earlier timetable, the ruling is expected to trigger adjustments across party structures, especially as internal disputes and protests have already emerged in some states over candidate selection processes.
