THE Independent National Electoral Commission (Independent National Electoral Commission) says it will study a Federal High Court ruling that voided its general election timetable ahead of the 2027 elections.
News Point Nigeria reports that on Wednesday, a Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the timelines issued by INEC for the conduct of party primaries and the nomination of candidates.
Under the revised timetable earlier released by the commission, all political parties were expected to submit their membership registers by May 10, conduct primaries to select candidates, and also apply for withdrawals and submit replacements for the 2027 general election before the end of May.
However, the court held that INEC lacks the statutory powers to abridge timelines provided under the Electoral Act, 2026.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2016, was filed on March 11 by the Youth Party with INEC listed as the sole defendant.
The plaintiff, through its counsel, J.O. Olotu, sought several reliefs, including a declaration that INEC’s powers to receive notices of party primaries and candidates’ particulars, as well as its duty to monitor such exercises under sections 29, 82 and 84(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, do not extend to fixing timelines for political parties to conduct primaries ahead of the 2027 general election.
In his judgment, presiding judge Mohammed Umar held that INEC cannot “fix or prescribe the timetable within which political parties may conduct their primary elections for the purpose of nominating candidates for the 2027 general elections”.
The court further ruled that the powers granted to INEC under sections 29, 82 and 84(1) of the Electoral Act do not include determining timelines for party primaries.
“A declaration is hereby made that upon a proper consideration and interpretation of the provisions of sections 29, 82 and 84(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, the powers of the defendant to receive notice of party primaries and the personal particulars of candidates, and its duty to attend, observe and monitor such primaries, does not extend to fixing or prescribing the timetable within which political parties may conduct their primary elections,” the judge ruled.
Justice Umar also held that INEC cannot lawfully shorten the statutory period allowed for political parties to submit the particulars of candidates.
Reacting to the judgment on Friday, INEC Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, said the commission would carefully study the court’s decision before taking any position.
“We have not received the judgement, and we cannot comment on it. Yes, the judgement is in the public domain, and we don’t know the reasons for the decision that was taken,” she said.
“So, there’s need to study the whole judgement and decide on the next step to take.”