…rules that INEC lacks power to impose restrictive timelines on political parties.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the 2027 election timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Mohammed Umar delivered the judgment in a suit filed by the Youth Party, ruling that INEC exceeded its powers by imposing restrictive timelines on political parties for primaries and other pre-election activities.
The court held that INEC does not have the statutory authority to determine the timeframe within which political parties must conduct their primary elections for the 2027 general elections.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, challenged several provisions in INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 elections.
Justice Umar granted all six reliefs sought by the Youth Party and declared that INEC cannot lawfully shorten statutory periods already provided under the Electoral Act, 2026.
The court ruled that political parties are entitled to the timelines stated in the law for submission of candidates’ particulars, withdrawal and substitution of candidates, publication of final candidate lists and campaign activities.
The judge subsequently set aside portions of INEC’s timetable found to be inconsistent with the Electoral Act.
According to the ruling, constitutional and electoral procedures must strictly comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act rather than timelines independently fixed by the electoral commission.