The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned political parties that any primary election conducted after its May 30 deadline may be considered invalid unless a superior court rules otherwise.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, stated that parties must continue to operate under the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 while awaiting the outcome of ongoing legal appeals.
He explained that the current legal position is that primaries held beyond the approved timeline would not stand unless overturned by the Court of Appeal, which is currently reviewing the Federal High Court’s judgment on the matter.
The dispute stems from conflicting court decisions regarding INEC’s authority to set timelines for party primaries and candidate nominations ahead of the 2027 general elections. A Federal High Court in Abuja had previously ruled that certain aspects of INEC’s timetable violated provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly concerning submission deadlines for party records and candidates.
Following that judgment, INEC filed an appeal, insisting its schedule was lawful and within its constitutional mandate. The commission had earlier fixed April 23 to May 30, 2026, as the window for parties to conduct primaries.
In a separate ruling, another Federal High Court affirmed INEC’s power to issue election timetables, but emphasized that such powers must still align strictly with statutory timelines under the Electoral Act.
Meanwhile, internal disputes continue within political parties, with several rerun primaries ordered in Kaduna State by an appeals committee of the African Democratic Congress due to reported irregularities, omissions of aspirants, and lack of credible voting evidence in some constituencies.
The committee said the reruns are necessary to protect the credibility of the party’s nomination process and ensure fairness for all aspirants.
As legal battles continue over electoral timelines, INEC has urged political parties to strictly adhere to existing rules pending final judicial resolution.
