Court Nullifies INEC’s 2027 Election Timetable
The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the 2027 election timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ruling that parts of the schedule violated provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
Justice Mohammed Umar delivered the judgment in a suit filed by the Youth Party against INEC.
The court held that INEC lacked the legal authority to prescribe or restrict the timeframe within which political parties must conduct their primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, the Youth Party challenged several provisions contained in INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the elections.
Justice Umar granted all six reliefs sought by the party.
According to the judgment, INEC cannot lawfully shorten statutory timelines already provided in the Electoral Act concerning the submission of candidates’ particulars, withdrawal and replacement of candidates, publication of final candidates’ lists, and campaign periods.
The judge ruled that Sections 29, 31, 32, 33, 82, 84(1), and 98 of the Electoral Act clearly define the timelines political parties and the commission must follow, and that INEC exceeded its powers by introducing conflicting deadlines.
The court specifically declared that:
INEC cannot fix the timetable for party primaries beyond what is provided in the Electoral Act.
Political parties are entitled to submit candidates’ particulars up to 120 days before an election as stated by law.
Parties can withdraw and replace candidates up to 90 days before an election.
INEC cannot publish final candidates’ lists earlier than the legally prescribed 60-day period before elections.
The commission has no authority to compel campaigns to end two days before an election if such restriction is inconsistent with the Electoral Act.
Rules regarding submission of membership registers for primaries do not apply to replacement primaries for withdrawn candidates.
Justice Umar consequently set aside the portions of INEC’s revised election timetable that imposed timelines inconsistent with the Electoral Act, 2026.
Under the now-nullified timetable, political parties were directed to submit membership registers by May 10 and conclude primaries, withdrawals, and candidate replacements before the end of May.
Although most of the 18 registered political parties had already complied with the schedule and commenced primaries, the process — especially within the ruling All Progressives Congress — has been marred by protests, allegations of candidate imposition, and withdrawals by aspirants in several states.
