Court Nullifies INEC Timetable, Opens Door for Losing Primary Candidates in 2027
ABUJA– Hope has returned for politicians who lost in recent party primaries after a Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the Independent National Electoral Commission’s revised timetable for the 2027 general elections.
Justice Mohammed Umar ruled on Wednesday that INEC overstepped its powers by imposing deadlines that cut short periods clearly set out in the Electoral Act 2026.
The judgment affects the conduct of primaries, submission of candidates’ particulars, withdrawal and replacement of names, publication of final lists, and the campaign calendar.
- Advertisement -
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2016, was filed by the Youth Party with INEC as the sole defendant. Counsel J. O. Olotu argued that Sections 29, 31, 32, 33, 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act reserve specific timeframes to political parties, and that INEC cannot lawfully shorten them.
Agreeing, Justice Umar held that Section 29(1) requires parties to submit candidates’ details not later than 120 days to an election, and INEC cannot reduce that window.
He also cited Section 31, which allows withdrawal and substitution of candidates up to 90 days before polls, and Section 32, which bars INEC from publishing the final list earlier than 60 days to the election.
The court further declared that INEC lacked authority to fix the end of campaigns two days before voting under Section 98, and that the deadline for submitting membership registers does not apply when parties conduct primaries to replace withdrawn candidates under Section 33.
Justice Umar consequently set aside INEC’s revised timetable to the extent that it conflicts with the Electoral Act 2026.
The ruling comes as the 18 registered parties were working under INEC’s schedule to submit membership registers by May 10 and conclude primaries, withdrawals and replacements by the end of May.
Several parties, including the All Progressives Congress, have faced protests and withdrawals over alleged imposition of candidates during primaries.
With the timetable struck down, the judgment gives losing aspirants a fresh window to defect or be substituted by their parties ahead of 2027, reshaping the build-up to the general elections.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, MAY 22ND 2026)
